Manila, Aug. 15 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reiterated the urgent need for the country to build a credible defense posture amid complex geopolitical and socio-economic realities.

Teodoro delivered the message during the US-ASEAN Business Council 2025 Aerospace, Defense and Security (ADS) Mission to the Philippines, according to a news release on Friday.

"It is more painful to be behind the curve because one day you need to be on that curve. If not, you lose. And you have to win in whatever objective you set," Teodoro said.

"You cannot have a soft win which is not permanent. You have to have a firm win. And for me, the win is nobody touches the Philippines -- whoever it may be," he added.

The ...