Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)

Secretary of National Defense
Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa
Official seal of the
Department of National Defense
since June 5, 2023[1][2]
StyleThe Honorable
Member ofCabinet, National Security Council
Reports toPresident of the Philippines
AppointerThe president
with Commission on Appointments confirmation
PrecursorSecretary of War
FormationNovember 1, 1939
First holderTeófilo Sison
Websitednd.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]

The current secretary is former Philippine House representative of 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)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Emiliano Riego de Dios March 22,
1897 		November 1,
1897 		Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War (1897)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Emiliano Riego de Dios November 1,
1897 		December 15,
1897 		Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War and Navy (1898–1899)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Baldomero Aguinaldo
(1869–1915) 		July 15,
1898 		May 7,
1899 		Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of War (1898–1899)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Mariano Trías
(1868–1914) 		May 7,
1899 		November 13,
1899 		Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of National Defense (1939–1941)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Teófilo Sison
(1880–1975) 		November 1,
1939 		July 15,
1941 		Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel L. Quezon[a]
(1878–1944)
Acting 		July 16,
1941 		December 11,
1941
Jorge B. Vargas
(1890–1980)
Acting 		December 11,
1941 		December 22,
1941

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

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Basilio Valdes
(1892–1970) 		December 23,
1941 		February 26,
1945 		Manuel L. Quezon
Sergio Osmeña
Tomas Cabili
(1903–1957) 		February 27,
1945 		July 11,
1945

Secretary of National Defense (1945–1978)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Alfredo Montelibano Sr.
(1905–1989) 		July 12,
1945 		May 27,
1946 		Sergio Osmeña
Ruperto Kangleon
(1890–1958) 		May 28,
1946 		August 31,
1950 		Manuel Roxas
Elpidio Quirino
Ramon Magsaysay
(1907–1957) 		September 1,
1950 		February 28,
1953
Oscar Castelo
(1903–1982)
Acting 		March 1,
1953 		December 30,
1953
Ramon Magsaysay[a]
(1907–1957)
Acting 		January 1,
1954 		May 14,
1954 		Ramon Magsaysay
Sotero Cabahug
(1891–1963) 		May 14,
1954 		January 2,
1956
Eulogio Balao
(1907–1977) 		January 3,
1956 		August 28,
1957
Carlos P. Garcia
Jesus Vargas
(1905–1994) 		August 28,
1957 		May 18,
1959
Alejo Santos
(1911–1984) 		June 11,
1959 		December 30,
1961
Macario Peralta Jr.
(1913–1975) 		January 1,
1962 		December 30,
1965 		Diosdado Macapagal
Ferdinand Marcos[a]
(1917–1989)
Acting 		December 31,
1965 		January 20,
1967 		Ferdinand Marcos
Ernesto Mata
(1915–2012) 		January 21,
1967 		February 3,
1970
Juan Ponce Enrile
(1924–2025) 		February 9,
1970 		August 27,
1971
Ferdinand Marcos[a]
(1917–1989)
Acting 		August 28,
1971 		January 3,
1972
Juan Ponce Enrile
(1924–2025) 		January 4,
1972 		June 2,
1978

Minister of National Defense (1978–1987)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Juan Ponce Enrile
(1924–2025) 		June 2,
1978 		November 23,
1986 		Ferdinand Marcos
Corazon Aquino
Rafael Ileto
(1920–2003) 		November 23,
1986 		February 11,
1987

Secretary of National Defense (from 1987)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office President
Rafael Ileto
(1920–2003) 		February 11,
1987 		January 21,
1988 		Corazon Aquino
Fidel V. Ramos
(1928–2022) 		January 22,
1988 		July 18,
1991
Renato de Villa
(born 1935) 		July 20,
1991 		September 15,
1997
Fidel V. Ramos
Fortunato Abat
(1925–2018) 		September 16,
1997 		June 30,
1998
Orly Mercado
(born 1946) 		June 30,
1998 		January 25,
2001 		Joseph Estrada
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Eduardo Ermita
(1935–2025)
Acting 		January 26,
2001 		March 19,
2001
Angelo Reyes
(1945–2011) 		March 19,
2001 		August 29,
2003
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[a]
(born 1947)
Acting 		September 1,
2003 		October 2,
2003
Eduardo Ermita
(1935–2025) 		October 3,
2003 		August 24,
2004
Avelino Cruz August 25,
2004 		November 30,
2006
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[a]
(born 1947)
Acting 		November 30,
2006 		February 1,
2007
Jun Ebdane
(born 1948) 		February 1,
2007 		July 2,
2007
Norberto Gonzales
(born 1947)
Acting 		July 2,
2007 		August 6,
2007
Gilbert Teodoro
(born 1964) 		August 7,
2007 		November 16,
2009
Norberto Gonzales
(born 1947) 		November 16,
2009 		June 30,
2010
Voltaire Gazmin
(born 1944) 		June 30,
2010 		June 30,
2016 		Benigno Aquino III
Delfin Lorenzana
(born 1948) 		June 30,
2016 		June 30,
2022 		Rodrigo Duterte
Jose Faustino Jr.
(born 1965)
Acting 		June 30,
2022 		January 9,
2023 		Bongbong Marcos
Carlito Galvez Jr.
(born 1962)
Acting 		January 9,
2023 		June 5,
2023
Gilbert Teodoro
(born 1964) 		June 5,
2023 		Incumbent

Notes:

  1. ^ a b c d e f Served in concurrent capacity as the President.

References

  1. ^ a b Geducos, Argyll Cyrus (June 5, 2023). "Marcos names Gibo Teodoro as defense chief". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b 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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