Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. honored military, police, coast guard, and fire protection units on November 11, 2026, for their roles in securing the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ADMM-Plus, which were held in Cebu from October 26 to 31, 2026, the Department of National Defense said in a press release issued through Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong.
The awarding ceremony was conducted at the Visayas Command (VISCOM) headquarters at Camp Lapulapu, Apas, Cebu City. Teodoro was assisted during the ceremony by VISCOM Commander Lieutenant General Moises L. Micor of the Philippine Air Force.
AFP Units Receive SND Service Merit Medal
The Secretary of National Defense (SND) Service Merit Medal was awarded to twelve AFP units, represented at the ceremony by their respective commanders and unit heads. According to the DND press release, the recipients were:
- Visayas Command (VISCOM) — represented by LTGEN Moises L. Micor PAF
- Joint Task Group of the DND — represented by COMMO Elmer G. Toriado PN
- Joint Task Unit of VISCOM — represented by COL Arthur M. Romanillos Jr. PA (MNSA)
- Joint Task Force Spear — represented by MGEN Joey A. Escanillas PA, Commander, 3rd Infantry Division
- Joint Task Force Storm — represented by MGEN Peter B. Burgonio PA, Commander, 8th Infantry Division
- Tactical Operations Wing Central — represented by BGEN Sheillah Grace E. Vicente PAF
- Naval Forces Central — represented by COMMO Junjie B. Tabuada PN
- 53rd Engineering Brigade — represented by BGEN Joel N. Sobrera PA
- Air Mobility Command — represented by BGEN Luisito F. Angeles Jr. PAF
- Camp Lapulapu Station Hospital — represented by COL Josefa Andrea G. Cornista MC (GSC)
- Joint Intelligence Task Unit of VISCOM — represented by LTC Joffrey S. Tacusalme (GSC) PA
- 4th Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems Group — represented by MAJ Warren Bionat PA
PNP, Coast Guard, and BFP Cited with Letters of Commendation
Three non-AFP agencies that provided support to the defence meetings received Letters of Commendation, the DND said. The Philippine National Police Regional Office 7, represented by PBGEN Arnold E. Abad, was among those recognized. Coast Guard District Central Visayas, represented by RADM Agapito B. Bibat of the Philippine Coast Guard, and BFP Regional Office 7, represented by FSSUPT Joelito S. Sabandal of the Bureau of Fire Protection, also received commendations.
Teodoro Cites Complexity of High-Level Security Operation
In his remarks at the ceremony, Teodoro described the scale and difficulty of coordinating security and logistics for a gathering of senior defence officials from across the ASEAN region.
"It is not easy to logisticize and to plan a convergence of such high-level individuals from the pre-arrival stage to the arrival stage, to the billeting, to making sure they are entertained and protected properly, and until the time they leave and are safely beyond the area of responsibility of the Philippines. And it went off without incident, which is a credit to your collective efforts, and I applaud you."
— Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., Department of National Defense
The meetings were held as part of the Philippines' ASEAN 2026 Chairship, according to the DND.
Teodoro: VISCOM Area to Be a Central Logistics Hub
Beyond the recognition ceremony, Teodoro used the occasion to reaffirm VISCOM's strategic role in the country's defense architecture. He said the command's responsibilities span internal security operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), and logistics for territorial defense, according to the DND press release.
"Once again, I reiterate that the VISCOM area will be a central logistics area for also territorial defense operations and for internal security logistics once again, because we are the center of the Philippines for a purpose, and that purpose is to be the logistics hub on both areas of the southern Philippines, the MIMAROPA region, and Northern Mindanao."
— Secretary Teodoro
Marcos Gratitude Conveyed to Awardees
Teodoro also relayed the appreciation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the assembled personnel and units, according to the DND press release.
"This should serve as an inspiration not only to you but also to your men that all your hard work is well appreciated by everyone. And my job here is to send our thanks for the commitment, the professionalism, and the devotion to duty that you have shown."
— Secretary Teodoro, conveying President Marcos' sentiments
Photo credit: Department of National Defense