Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Monday, October 26, 2026, raised the possibility of expanding the Philippines' Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFAs) with like-minded countries to strengthen international peacekeeping cooperation, improve military interoperability and advance collective security under the auspices of the United Nations.
He spoke at the opening ceremony of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centers (AAPTC) 13th Annual General Meeting and Workshop 2026 in Makati City, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).
At a glance
- Event: AAPTC 13th Annual General Meeting and Workshop 2026, Makati City, opened October 26, 2026
- Current SOVFAs with AAPTC members: 5 countries — France, Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand
- Chairmanship: passed from Bangladesh to the Philippines during the ceremony
- Theme: "Technology, Information and Influence: Preparing Peacekeepers for Modern Conflict Zones in a Resource-Constrained Environment"
"No misalignment of fundamental values"
The Philippines' existing SOVFAs with the five AAPTC member countries are anchored on shared principles of international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), interoperability, collective security and deterrence, the DND said.
"It opens up my eyes, too, to the possibility of stronger relationships to include perhaps Status of Visiting Forces Agreements with countries where we do not have a misalignment of fundamental values," Teodoro said.
Peacekeeping as military diplomacy
Teodoro urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to actively cooperate with regional peacekeeping partners and explore opportunities to enhance defense cooperation. He described peacekeeping as a powerful instrument of military diplomacy that builds knowledge sharing, professional relationships and partnerships among participating countries.
He also stressed the need for proper rules of engagement, effective command-and-control arrangements and adequate force protection so peacekeepers can perform their mandated tasks without being unnecessarily exposed to harm, while maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations. He reiterated the Philippines' commitment to UN peacekeeping and international law.
Philippines takes the AAPTC chair
Teodoro led the formal turnover of the AAPTC chairmanship and flag from Bangladesh to the Philippines. Outgoing chairmanship representative Brigadier General Mohammad Hafiz Mahmud, Deputy Commandant of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), and incoming chairperson Colonel Warlito A. Limet, Commanding Officer of the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center (PKOC), led the turnover proceedings.
The opening ceremony also featured remarks by Captain James S. Ramon Jr., Executive Officer of the AFP PKOC, and Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support. Attendees included representatives of peace operations training centers from Asia-Pacific countries, military officers, peacekeeping practitioners and UN officials, among them Harinder Sood, Chief of the Integrated Training Service.
What wider agreements could mean
According to Teodoro, such partnerships could facilitate more realistic joint training, strengthen force protection and improve the delivery of essential services to conflict-affected communities.
Photos: Department of National Defense