MANILA, March 5 -- Malacanang on Wednesday reaffirmed the government's focus on enhancing the Philippines' self-reliant defense capabilities.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, during a press briefing, stressed that the country must be prepared to defend itself, regardless of its alliances.

This follows reports of the United States (US) cutting its military assistance to Ukraine.

The US remains the Philippines' strongest and oldest military ally.

"May ally tayo o wala tayong ally, kailangan din po nating i-prepare iyong sarili natin (Whether we have allies or not, we also need to prepare ourselves," Castro said.

"Iyong AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] modernization ay ...