of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country. The Department of National Defense exercises executive supervision over the
(GA). It is also responsible for disaster preparation and management in the country.
cabinet. The current Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines is
The Department of National Defense was formally organized on November 1, 1939 pursuant to Executive Order No. 230 of
, to implement Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the
passed by the National Assembly on December 21, 1935 and Commonwealth Act No. 340 creating the department.
| Name |
Term of Office |
President(s)The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Served Under |
|
| Emiliano Riego de Dios |
March 22 November 1, 1897 |
Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
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| Baldomero Aguinaldo Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a former prime minister in the 1980s.-Early life:Baldomero Aguinaldo was born in Kawit, Cavite...
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July 15, 1898 May 6, 1899 |
Mariano TríasMariano Trías y Closas is considered to be the first de facto Philippine Vice President of that revolutionary government established at the Tejeros Convention - an assembly of Philippine revolutionary leaders that elected officials of the revolutionary movement against the colonial government of...
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May 7, 1899 November 12, 1899 |
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| Teofilo Sison Teofilo Sison is a Philippine legislator and the first Secretary of National Defense of the Philippine Commonwealth.-Early Life:Teofilo L. Sison was born on February 29, 1880 in Dagupan, Pangasinan, to Benito Sison and Escolastica Leuterio....
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November 1, 1939 July 15, 1941 |
Manuel L. QuezonManuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
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Manuel L. QuezonManuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
|
July 16 December 10, 1941 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
|
| Jorge B. Vargas Jorge B. Vargas was a lawyer and youth advocate born in Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911 and a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1914, both from the University of the...
* |
December 11 December 22, 1941 |
Manuel L. QuezonManuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
|
| Basilio J. Valdes |
December 23, 1941 February 6, 1945 |
Manuel L. QuezonManuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
,
Sergio OsmenaSergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
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| Tomás Cabili Tomas Lluisma Cabili was a lawyer, journalist, educator, and assemblyman from Lanao. He is also known as Sultan Dimasangkay-ko-Ranao for Maranaos.-Early life:...
|
February 27 July 11, 1945 |
Sergio OsmeñaSergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
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| Alfredo Montelibano |
July 12, 1945 May 27, 1946 |
|
| Ruperto Kangleon Ruperto Cadava Kangleon was a Filipino military figure and politician. He was a native of Macrohon in what is now the province of Southern Leyte....
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May 28, 1946 August 31, 1950 |
Manuel RoxasManuel Acuña Roxas was the first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines and fifth president overall. He served as president from the granting of independence in 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948...
,
Elpidio QuirinoElpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925–1931...
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| Ramon Magsaysay Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
|
September 1, 1950 February 28, 1953 |
Elpidio Quirino Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925–1931...
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| Oscar T. Castelo Oscar Castelo is a former judge of the Manila Court and Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines.-Early life:Born in May 20, 1903 in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Oscar Castelo enrolled at the San Juan de Letran and later at Escuela de Derecho. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1927 and...
|
March 1 December 19, 1953 |
| Ramon Magsaysay Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
|
January 1 May 14, 1954 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
|
| Sotero B. Cabahug |
May 14, 1954 January 2, 1956 |
Ramon Magsaysay Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
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| Eulogio B. Balao Eulogio Balao was a Filipino soldier and politician.-Career:Balao joined the Philippine Constabulary as a young man and rose through its ranks. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Forces Far East...
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January 3, 1956 August 28, 1957 |
Ramon Magsaysay Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
,
Carlos P. GarciaCarlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
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| Jesus M. Vargas Jesus M. Vargas was a former soldier and served as Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines.-Early Life:Jesus Miranda Vargas was born on March 22, 1905 in Manila to Braulio Vargas and Petrona Miranda....
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August 28, 1957 May 18, 1959 |
Carlos P. GarciaCarlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
|
Alejo S. SantosAlejo S. Santos was a Filipino soldier and World War II hero who parlayed his fame into a political career. His prestige was somewhat marred in later life when he agreed to run as the only candidate against Ferdinand Marcos in the widely-suspect 1981 Philippine presidential election.-Early life...
|
June 11, 1959 December 30, 1961 |
| Macario Peralta, Jr. Macario Peralta, Jr. was a Filipino soldier, lawyer and Secretary of National Defense.-Early life:Born in Manila on July 30, 1913 of Ilocano-Pangasinan descent, Peralta grew up in Tarlac. He finished his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the Philippines, graduating cum laude, in 1936...
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January 1, 1962 December 30, 1965 |
Diosdado Macapagal Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
|
| Ferdinand E. Marcos |
December 31, 1965 January 20, 1967 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
|
| Ernesto S. Mata |
January 21, 1967 February 3, 1970 |
Ferdinand E. Marcos |
Juan Ponce EnrileJuan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...
|
February 9, 1970 August 27, 1971 |
| Ferdinand E. Marcos |
August 28, 1971 January 3, 1972 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
|
Juan Ponce EnrileJuan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...
|
January 4, 1972 November 23, 1986 |
Ferdinand E. Marcos,
Corazon AquinoMaria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
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| Rafael M. Ileto Rafael M. Ileto served as the 22nd Secretary of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines. He was also became the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . He also served as Philippine Ambassador to Turkey, Iran, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.-Early years:Rafael...
|
November 23, 1986 January 21, 1988 |
Corazon AquinoMaria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
|
Fidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
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January 22, 1988 July 18, 1991 |
| Renato S. De Villa Renato "Rene" de Villa is a political figure in the Philippines and founder of the rightist political party Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa.-Biography:...
|
July 20, 1991 September 15, 1997 |
Corazon AquinoMaria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
,
Fidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
|
| Fortunato Abat Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat served as the 20th Secretary of the Department of National Defense , Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and the former Commanding General of the Philippine Army.-Early years:...
|
September 16, 1997 June 30, 1998 |
Fidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
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| Orlando S. Mercado Orlando Sanchez Mercado , also known as Orly Mercado, is a politician from the Philippines. Mercado was a senator for three terms and the head and anchor the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971...
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June 30, 1998 January 19, 2001 |
Joseph EstradaJoseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
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| Orlando S. Mercado Orlando Sanchez Mercado , also known as Orly Mercado, is a politician from the Philippines. Mercado was a senator for three terms and the head and anchor the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971...
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January 22 January 25, 2001 |
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
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| Eduardo R. Ermita Eduardo R. Ermita, was the Executive Secretary of the Philippines, and spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. Ermita took his Defense Resource Management Course at Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, U.S.A...
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January 25, 2003 March 19, 2001 |
| Angelo T. Reyes Angelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada...
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March 19, 2001 August 29, 2003 |
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
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September 1 October 2, 2003 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
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| Eduardo R. Ermita Eduardo R. Ermita, was the Executive Secretary of the Philippines, and spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. Ermita took his Defense Resource Management Course at Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, U.S.A...
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October 3, 2003 August 24, 2004 |
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
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| Avelino Cruz, Jr. |
August 25, 2004 November 30, 2006 |
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
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November 30, 2006 February 1, 2007 |
In concurrent capacity as PresidentThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
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| Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. Hermogenes Edejer Ebdane, Jr. is a Filipino politician and retired General. He is the Current Governor of Zambales. He was the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways from 4 July 2007-2010, his second appointment to the post.He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy class...
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February 1 July 1, 2007 |
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
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| Norberto B. Gonzales |
July 1 August 3, 2007 |
| Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. |
August 3, 2007 November 15, 2009 |
| Norberto B. Gonzales * |
November 15, 2009 June 30, 2010 |
| Voltaire Gazmin Voltaire Tuvera Gazmin is the 35th secretary of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense, officially assumed office on July 1, 2010 after President Benigno Simeon C...
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June 30, 2010 Present |
Benigno Aquino IIIBenigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
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