Tinio exposes defense budget push as US imposition

Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio strongly opposed Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s push to increase the Department of National Defense (DND) budget to 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), revealing this as a direct imposition of US imperial interests and exposing the defense chief as Washington’s primary mouthpiece in the Philippines.

“Si Gibo ang numero unong tagapagsalita ng US sa Pilipinas,” Tinio said bluntly. “Ang kanyang panawagang pagtaas ng military spending ay hindi para sa ating mga pangangailangan kundi para sa interes ng US kontra sa China. Ang gusto ng US, Pilipinas ang gumastos para sa pagdepensa ng interes ng US, sa balangkas ng mapanlinlang nitong iskema ng ‘collective defense.’”

Tinio pointed to the May 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanded that Asia-Pacific allies commit to spending 3.5 to 5 percent of GDP on defense—a demand that mirrors US President Donald Trump’s ongoing pressure on European NATO members.

“Ito ang bagong estratehiya ng imperyalismong US—ang pag-uudyok sa ating bansa na gumastos ng bilyun-bilyong piso para suportahan ang kanilang geopolitical competition laban sa China,” Tinio said. “Habang nagtutulak si Gibo para sa dagdag na pera para sa mga missile, fighter jet, barko, at submarine, nag-aaral sa.mga siksikang klasrum na walang libro at internet ang ating kabataan, walang access sa sapat na healthcare ang napakarami, at walang disenteng pabahay ang mga maralita.”

Tinio emphasized that the Philippines, unlike Japan, South Korea, or the European NATO members, cannot afford such massive military expenditures without sacrificing essential social services.

“Mas kailangang unahin ang pagtataas ng budget sa edukasyon katumbas sa 6% ng ating GDP ayon sa UN. Gayon din sa serbisyong pangkalusugan na dapat ay 5% ayon naman sa WHO,” Tinio said. He pointed out that public spending on education is less than 4%. “Ito ang dapat unahin, hindi military spending.”

Tinio noted that the Philippines already spends 1.5 percent of GDP on defense - close to the 2% baseline set by NATO for its wealthy European member countries, yet Teodoro pushes for more than tripling this amount to serve American strategic interests. “Tila handa siyang ibenta ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak para tuparin ang kagustuhan ng US.”

The US demands shifting the burden to its so-called “allies” because the US is reeling from the crisis it created in Iran. Furthermore, this is not for PH defense against external threats but funding to support US agenda in the region

Tinio called on the government to reject US pressure and prioritize the genuine needs of the Filipino people.

Tinio noted that Teodoro’s statement was made one day before the anniversary of the Philippines’ victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. “The success of the Arbitral Ruling showed what the Phililppines can accomplish through its own legal and diplomatic efforts. It affirmed our sovereign rights to our exclusive economic zone and voided China’s sovereignty claim over our waters.

“The Marcos administration, through Sec. Teodoro, undermines that historic victory by parroting the US line and subsuming the defense of our sovereign rights to the First Island Chain strategy of the US. The Philippjnes is no link in the imperial master’s chain.”

“Higit nating maitataguyod ang ating soberanong karapatan kontra sa panghihimasok ng China kung hindi magsusunod-sunuran ang ating gubyerno sa makasariling pakana ng US,” Tinio ended. ###