Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)

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Secretary of National Defense
Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa
Department of National Defense - DND (Philippines).svg
Official seal of the
Department of National Defense
Gilbert Teodoro, 2023 official portrait.jpg
Incumbent
Gilbert Teodoro
since June 5, 2023 [1] [2]
Style The Honorable
Member of Cabinet, National Security Council
Reports to President of the Philippines
AppointerThe president
with Commission on Appointments confirmation
PrecursorSecretary of War
FormationNovember 1, 1939
First holder Teófilo Sison
Website dnd.gov.ph

The secretary of national defense (Filipino : Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa) is the head of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines and a member of the president's Cabinet. [3]

Contents

The current secretary is former Philippine House representative of the Tarlac's 1st congressional district Gilbert Teodoro. He assumed office on June 5, 2023 [1] [2] and has previously served the same position from August 2007 to November 2009.

Historically this cabinet position has been a stepping stone to the Philippine presidency. Two previous secretaries of national defense were elected president: Ramon Magsaysay and Fidel Ramos. Several others ran for the presidency: Alejo Santos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Renato de Villa, Norberto Gonzales and Gilbert Teodoro.

Powers and functions

The 1987 Executive Order No. 292 gives the national defense secretary executive supervision of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, the National Defense College of the Philippines, and the Government Arsenal.

List of national defense secretaries

Director of War (1897)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Emiliano Riego de Dios.png Emiliano Riego de DiosMarch 22,
1897		November 1,
1897		 Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War (1897)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Emiliano Riego de Dios.png Emiliano Riego de DiosNovember 1,
1897		December 15,
1897		 Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War and Navy (1898–1899)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Baldomero Aguinaldo.jpg Baldomero Aguinaldo
(1869–1915)		July 15,
1898		May 7,
1899		 Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War (1898–1899)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Mariano Trias portrait.jpg Mariano Trías
(1868–1914)		May 7,
1899		November 13,
1899		 Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of National Defense (1939–1941)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Teofilo Sison.jpg Teófilo Sison
(1880–1975)		November 1,
1939		July 15,
1941		 Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel L. Quezon (November 1942) (cropped).jpg Manuel L. Quezon [a]
(1878–1944)
Acting		July 16,
1941		December 11,
1941
Jorge Bartolome Vargas.jpg Jorge B. Vargas
(1890–1980)
Acting		December 11,
1941		December 22,
1941

Secretary of National Defense, Public Works, Communications and Labor (1941–1945)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Basilo J. Valdes (December, 1944).jpg Basilio Valdes
(1892–1970)		December 23,
1941		February 26,
1945		 Manuel L. Quezon
Sergio Osmeña
Tomas Lluisma Cabili.jpg Tomas Cabili
(1903–1957)		February 27,
1945		July 11,
1945

Secretary of National Defense (1945–1978)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Alfredo Montelibano Sr.jpg Alfredo Montelibano Sr.
(1905–1989)		July 12,
1945		May 27,
1946		 Sergio Osmeña
Col. Ruperto Kangleon.jpg Ruperto Kangleon
(1890–1958)		May 28,
1946		August 31,
1950		 Manuel Roxas
Elpidio Quirino
Ramon-Magsaysay-01.jpg Ramon Magsaysay
(1907–1957)		September 1,
1950		February 28,
1953
Oscar Tombo Castelo.jpg Oscar Castelo
(1903–1982)
Acting		March 1,
1953		December 30,
1953
Ramon-Magsaysay-01.jpg Ramon Magsaysay [a]
(1907–1957)
Acting		January 1,
1954		May 14,
1954		 Ramon Magsaysay
Secretary of National Defense Sotero Cabahug (cropped).jpg Sotero Cabahug
(1891–1963)		May 14,
1954		January 2,
1956
Eulogio Balao.jpg Eulogio Balao
(1907–1977)		January 3,
1956		August 28,
1957
Carlos P. Garcia
Chief of Staff Jesus M. Vargas (cropped).jpg Jesus Vargas
(1905–1994)		August 28,
1957		May 18,
1959
Rep. Alejo S. Santos (2nd Congress).jpg Alejo Santos
(1911–1984)		June 11,
1959		December 30,
1961
Macario Peralta Jr.jpg Macario Peralta Jr.
(1913–1975)		January 1,
1962		December 30,
1965		 Diosdado Macapagal
Ferdinand E Marcos (cropped).jpg Ferdinand Marcos [a]
(1917–1989)
Acting		December 31,
1965		January 20,
1967		 Ferdinand Marcos
Ernestomata2.jpg Ernesto Mata
(1915–2012)		January 21,
1967		February 3,
1970
Juan Ponce Enrile (1987).png Juan Ponce Enrile
(born 1924)		February 9,
1970		August 27,
1971
Ferdinand E Marcos (cropped).jpg Ferdinand Marcos [a]
(1917–1989)
Acting		August 28,
1971		January 3,
1972
Juan Ponce Enrile (1987).png Juan Ponce Enrile
(born 1924)		January 4,
1972		June 2,
1978

Minister of National Defense (1978–1987)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
Juan Ponce Enrile (1987).png Juan Ponce Enrile
(born 1924)		June 2,
1978		November 23,
1986		 Ferdinand Marcos
Corazon Aquino
R ILETO.jpg Rafael Ileto
(1920–2003)		November 23,
1986		February 11,
1987

Secretary of National Defense (from 1987)

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officePresident
R ILETO.jpg Rafael Ileto
(1920–2003)		February 11,
1987		January 21,
1988		 Corazon Aquino
Fidel Valdez Ramos (1995) close-up (cropped).jpg Fidel V. Ramos
(1928–2022)		January 22,
1988		July 18,
1991
3x4.svg Renato de Villa
(born 1935)		July 20,
1991		September 15,
1997
Fidel V. Ramos
Major General Fortunato U. Abat (cropped).jpg Fortunato Abat
(1925–2018)		September 16,
1997		June 30,
1998
Defense Secretary Orly Mercado.jpg Orly Mercado
(born 1946)		June 30,
1998		January 25,
2001		 Joseph Estrada
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President Arroyo is welcomed by Senate President Enrile - Eduardo Ermita (cropped).jpg Eduardo Ermita
(born 1935)
Acting		January 26,
2001		March 19,
2001
Secretary Angelo Reyes.jpg Angelo Reyes
(1945–2011)		March 19,
2001		August 29,
2003
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.jpg Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [a]
(born 1947)
Acting		September 1,
2003		October 2,
2003
President Arroyo is welcomed by Senate President Enrile - Eduardo Ermita (cropped).jpg Eduardo Ermita
(born 1935)		October 3,
2003		August 24,
2004
3x4.svg Avelino CruzAugust 25,
2004		November 30,
2006
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.jpg Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [a]
(born 1947)
Acting		November 30,
2006		February 1,
2007
Hermogenes Ebdane 2007 (cropped) 02.jpg Jun Ebdane
(born 1948)		February 1,
2007		July 2,
2007
Norberto Gonzales.jpg Norberto Gonzales
(born 1947)
Acting		July 2,
2007		August 6,
2007
Gilbert Teodoro, 2023 official portrait (cropped).jpg Gilbert Teodoro
(born 1964)		August 7,
2007		November 16,
2009
Norberto Gonzales.jpg Norberto Gonzales
(born 1947)		November 16,
2009		June 30,
2010
Voltaire Gazmin.jpg Voltaire Gazmin
(born 1944)		June 30,
2010		June 30,
2016		 Benigno Aquino III
Delfin Lorenzana (cropped).jpg Delfin Lorenzana
(born 1948)		June 30,
2016		June 30,
2022		 Rodrigo Duterte
Jose C. Faustino Jr.jpg Jose Faustino Jr.
(born 1965)
Acting		June 30,
2022		January 9,
2023		 Bongbong Marcos
Carlito Galvez OIC DND.jpg Carlito Galvez Jr.
(born 1962)
Acting		January 9,
2023		June 5,
2023
Gilbert Teodoro, 2023 official portrait (cropped).jpg Gilbert Teodoro
(born 1964)		June 5,
2023		Incumbent

Notes:

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Served in concurrent capacity as the President.

References

  1. 1 2 Geducos, Argyll Cyrus (June 5, 2023). "Marcos names Gibo Teodoro as defense chief". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Cupin, Bea (May 29, 2025). "Marcos gov't revamp: Remullas, Teodoro in; SolGen and CHED chief out". Rappler . Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ "National Defense Secretaries". Department of National Defense. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
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