| Post: | Philippine Secretary |
| Body: | National Defense |
| Native Name: | Filipino; Pilipino: Kalihim ng tanggulang pambansa |
| Insignia: | Department of National Defense - DND (Philippines).svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Official seal of the Department of National Defense |
| Incumbent: | Gilberto Teodoro Jr. |
| Incumbentsince: | June 5, 2023 |
| Style: | The Honorable |
| Member Of: | Cabinet |
| Reports To: | President of the Philippines |
| Appointer: | The President |
| Appointer Qualified: | with Commission on Appointments confirmation |
| Precursor: | Secretary of War |
| Formation: | November 1, 1939 |
| First: | Teófilo Sison |
| Website: | http://www.dnd.gov.ph |
The Philippine secretary of National Defense (Filipino; Pilipino: Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa) is the head of the Philippine Department of National Defense and a member of the President's Cabinet.[1]
The current secretary is former Philippine House representative of the Tarlac's 1st congressional district Gilbert Teodoro. He assumed office on June 5, 2023 and previously served the same position from August 2007 to November 2009.
Historically this cabinet position has been a stepping stone to the Philippine presidency. Two previous secretaries of national defense were elected president: Ramon Magsaysay and Fidel Ramos.Several others ran for the presidency: Alejo Santos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Renato de Villa, Norberto Gonzales and Gilbert Teodoro.
The 1987 Executive Order No. 292 gives the national defense secretary executive supervision of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, the National Defense College of the Philippines, and the Government Arsenal.
See main article: Republic of Biak-na-Bato, Revolutionary Government of the Philippines (1898–1899) and First Philippine Republic. Prior to the formation of the Department of National Defense in 1935, President Emilio Aguinaldo established the Department of War and Public Works that served similar functions.[2]
| No. | Photo | Name | Term | President | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | |||||
| Secretary of War | |||||||
| 1 | Emiliano Riego de Dios | March 22, 1897 | December 15, 1897 | Emilio Aguinaldo | |||
| Secretary of War and Public Works | |||||||
| 2 | Baldomero Aguinaldo | July 15, 1898 | January 2, 1899 | Emilio Aguinaldo | |||
| Secretary of War and Public Works | |||||||
| (2) | Baldomero Aguinaldo | January 2, 1899 | May 6, 1899 | Emilio Aguinaldo | |||
| 3 | Mariano Trías | May 7, 1899 | March 23, 1901 | Emilio Aguinaldo | |||
Notes: