The Secretary of national defense () is the head of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines and a member of the president's Cabinet.
The current secretary is former Philippine House representative of Tarlac's 1st congressional district, Gilbert Teodoro. He assumed office on June 5, 2023 and has previously served the same position under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 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.
Powers and functions 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.
List of national defense secretaries
Director of War (1897) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentEmiliano Riego de DiosMarch 22,1897November 1,1897Emilio Aguinaldo
Secretary of War (1897) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentEmiliano Riego de DiosNovember 1,1897December 15,1897Emilio Aguinaldo
Secretary of War and Navy (1898–1899) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentBaldomero Aguinaldo(1869–1915)July 15,1898May 7,1899Emilio Aguinaldo
Secretary of War (1898–1899) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentMariano Trías(1868–1914)May 7,1899November 13,1899Emilio Aguinaldo Secretary of National Defense (1939–1941) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentTeófilo Sison(1880–1975)November 1,1939July 15,1941Manuel L. QuezonManuel L. Quezon(1878–1944)ActingJuly 16,1941December 11,1941Jorge B. Vargas(1890–1980)ActingDecember 11,1941December 22,1941
Secretary of National Defense, Public Works, Communications, and Labor (1941–1945) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentBasilio Valdes(1892–1970)December 23,1941February 26,1945Manuel L. QuezonSergio OsmeñaTomas Cabili(1903–1957)February 27,1945July 11,1945
Secretary of National Defense (1945–1978) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentAlfredo Montelibano Sr.(1905–1989)July 12,1945May 27,1946Sergio OsmeñaRuperto Kangleon(1890–1958)May 28,1946August 31,1950Manuel RoxasElpidio QuirinoRamon Magsaysay(1907–1957)September 1,1950February 28,1953Oscar Castelo(1903–1982)ActingMarch 1,1953December 30,1953Ramon Magsaysay(1907–1957)ActingJanuary 1,1954May 14,1954Ramon MagsaysaySotero Cabahug(1891–1963)May 14,1954January 2,1956Eulogio Balao(1907–1977)January 3,1956August 28,1957Carlos P. GarciaJesus Vargas(1905–1994)August 28,1957May 18,1959Alejo Santos(1911–1984)June 11,1959December 30,1961Macario Peralta Jr.(1913–1975)January 1,1962December 30,1965Diosdado MacapagalFerdinand Marcos(1917–1989)ActingDecember 31,1965January 20,1967Ferdinand MarcosErnesto Mata(1915–2012)January 21,1967February 3,1970 Juan Ponce Enrile(1924–2025)February 9,1970August 27,1971Ferdinand Marcos(1917–1989)ActingAugust 28,1971January 3,1972 Juan Ponce Enrile(1924–2025)January 4,1972June 2,1978
Minister of National Defense (1978–1987) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresident Juan Ponce Enrile(1924–2025)June 2,1978November 23,1986Ferdinand MarcosCorazon AquinoRafael Ileto(1920–2003)November 23,1986February 11,1987
Secretary of National Defense (from 1987) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentRafael Ileto(1920–2003)February 11,1987January 21,1988Corazon AquinoFidel V. Ramos(1928–2022)January 22,1988July 18,1991Renato de Villa(born 1935)July 20,1991September 15,1997Fidel V. RamosFortunato Abat(1925–2018)September 16,1997June 30,1998Orly Mercado(born 1946)June 30,1998January 25,2001Joseph EstradaGloria Macapagal ArroyoEduardo Ermita(1935–2025)ActingJanuary 26,2001March 19,2001Angelo Reyes(1945–2011)March 19,2001August 29,2003Gloria Macapagal Arroyo(born 1947)ActingSeptember 1,2003October 2,2003 Eduardo Ermita(1935–2025)October 3,2003August 24,2004Avelino CruzAugust 25,2004November 30,2006Gloria Macapagal Arroyo(born 1947)ActingNovember 30,2006February 1,2007Jun Ebdane(born 1948)February 1,2007July 2,2007Norberto Gonzales(born 1947)ActingJuly 2,2007August 6,2007Gilbert Teodoro(born 1964)August 7,2007November 16,2009Norberto Gonzales(born 1947)November 16,2009June 30,2010Voltaire Gazmin(born 1944)June 30,2010June 30,2016Benigno Aquino IIIDelfin Lorenzana(born 1948)June 30,2016June 30,2022Rodrigo DuterteJose Faustino Jr.(born 1965)ActingJune 30,2022January 9,2023Bongbong MarcosCarlito Galvez Jr.(born 1962)ActingJanuary 9,2023June 5,2023Gilbert Teodoro(born 1964)June 5,2023Incumbent
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