The secretary of national defense ( fil, kalihim ng tanggulang pambansa) is the head of the Department of National Defense and is a member of the president's Cabinet. The current acting secretary is

Jose Faustino Jr. Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr. is a retired Philippine Army general who, since his appointment in June 2022 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, serves as Senior Undersecretary and officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense. He previo ...

, who assumed office on June 30, 2022. This cabinet post is considered one of the stepping stones of the Philippine presidency. Two secretaries of defense were elected president:

Ramon Magsaysay Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay Sr. (August 31, 1907 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino statesman who served as the seventh president of the Philippines, from December 30, 1953, until his death in an aircraft disaster on March 17, 1957. An automo ...

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito is chosen President of Yugosl ...

and Fidel V. Ramos in

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment building in Amsterdam after two of its engin ...

. Several others have run for president, such as

Alejo Santos Alejo Santos Santos (born Alejo de los Santos de los Santos; July 17, 1911 – February 18, 1984) 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 ...

Juan Ponce Enrile Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juanito Furagganan; February 14, 1924), also referred to by his initials JPE, or Manong Johnny, is a Filipino politician and lawyer known for his role in the administration of Philippine dicta ...

Renato de Villa Renato "Rene" Salud de Villa (born July 20, 1935) is a Filipino former police and military officer and government official. He served as Chief of Philippine Constabulary, Director-General of the Integrated National Police, and Chief of Staff of ...

Norberto Gonzales Norberto Borja Gonzales (born April 17, 1947) is a Filipino social democratic politician who served as secretary of national defense and national security adviser under 14th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Gonzales was a candidate in the ...

and Gilbert Teodoro.

List of secretaries of national defense

Prior to the department's formation in 1935, President

Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...

established a similar department, the Department of War and Public Works. Three individuals served as heads of the department. They are as follows:

Revolutionary Government and First Philippine Republic

Commonwealth and Republics of the Philippines

External links

DND website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense indus ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...