The Philippine military is preparing to recruit specialists in cybersecurity and AI as part of a broader effort to adapt its armed forces to evolving security threats, Manila Times reported.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the plan reflects the military’s modernization strategy, which increasingly emphasizes technical expertise alongside conventional military capabilities.
According to Padilla, future conflicts will rely not only on troops and equipment but also on cyber operations, digital intelligence, and advanced technologies.
Specialists in cybersecurity and AI are expected to support military operations by protecting critical networks, strengthening cyber resilience, and providing analytical capabilities.
Recruitment will begin once the AFP finalizes the implementing guidelines, with further details to be released by the Philippines’ Department of National Defense and the military’s service branches.
Boosting Cybersecurity
The initiative follows the government’s broader push to strengthen cyber resilience.
In June, Manila broke ground on a new National Cyber Security Center in Valenzuela City, a facility backed by a $25-million grant from South Korea’s Korea International Cooperation Agency.
The facility is expected to enhance the country’s cyber defense capabilities, modernize security infrastructure, and help develop a skilled cybersecurity workforce.
Concerns over cyber threats have grown since Philippine authorities disclosed last year that a suspected China-linked cyberattack had targeted the Office of the President.
Officials said no sensitive data was compromised, adding that the intrusion appeared to be part of a broader campaign to obtain military-related information linked to tensions in the South China Sea.
