NATIONAL SECURITY PERCEPTIONS

OF THE PHILIPPINES*

The threat of weapons of mass destruction, armed conflicts,

conventional arms races remain central components of security threats

worldwide. However, new and complex areas of security have become

part of a much-expanded agenda of national security concerns with the

end of the Cold War and more recently, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror

attacks on the United States. These security concerns include ethnic

conflicts, transnational crimes such as human trafficking, piracy, drug

trafficking, money-laundering and terrorism, and environmental

degradation.

The Philippines subscribes to a broader definition of national

security which includes not only the protection of the Philippine territory

and the Filipino people from physical assault, but also the protection of

vital economic and political interests. In other words, we view national

security as a state or condition wherein our people's fundamental values,

way of life, institutions and socio-political interests, our territorial integrity

and sovereignty, as well as our welfare and well-being are protected and

enhanced.

* Paper presented at the ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on "Evolving Changes in the
Security Perceptions of the ARF Countries," 21-22 June June 2005, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
 Concerns which impact on our way of life and fundamental values

and our institutions include socio-political stability, cultural cohesiveness,

moral or spiritual consensus, economic solidarity, and ecological balance.

Our concept of national security therefore incorporates all these

dimensions or components. National security is the concern not only of

our military establishment, but also of other government agencies.

The Philippine National Security Council is the lead agency for the

formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and programs involving

national security, las provided for under Executive Order No. 115, issued

on 24 December 11986, and as amended by the Executive Order No. 33,

isued on 18 November 1992.

Philippine foreign policy is being implemented by the Department of

Foreign Affairs based on three important pillars: first - the preservation

and enhancement of national security; second - the promotion and

attainment of ecbnomic security through the mobilization of external

resources for ecohomic advancement and social development; and third

-the protection ofjthe rights, and the promotion of the welfare and interest,

of Filipino overseas.

The increasing political volatility in the regional and international

security environment, particularly the threat of international terrorism,

poses dangers not only on the Philippines and the Filipino people in our
country- As more than 7 million Filipinos work and reside overseas, they

have become stakeholders in world peace and in the peace of every

nation and region. Our role is to ensure that our region and other regions

are safe and stable.

In response to both traditional and non-traditional security threats,

the Philippines has undertaken a number of initiatives and measures

domestically, and in coordination with regional and international partners.

The Philippines signed a number of bilateral agreements to combat

transnational crimes through intelligence exchange, personnel training,

and cooperation in other areas. These include agreements with Australia,

China, the United States and the European Union.

At the regional level, the Philippines actively participates in the

formulation and implementation of region-wide agreements and

declarations. These include the Agreement on Information Exchange

and Establishment of Communication Procedures among the Philippines,

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Brunei; the proposed

establishment of an ASEAN Security Community, ARF statements, and

other regional initiatives.

At the international level, the Philippines is a member of the United

Nations Security Council until the end of this year, and actively takes part
in the security concerns under discussion. It is also proposing a Summit

of Security Council members this September.

The Philippines is also a state-party to all international conventions

related to weapons of mass destruction. It is in the process of

establishing a comprehensive Philippine WMD Export Control Regime,

and hopes to ha^/e the regime in place by early 2006. The Philippines

has also signed and ratified the 12 international conventions on terrorism.