The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) must be ready to fight on their own for up to a month before any ally can intervene, according to military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., outlining a new strategy for potential conflicts.

The plan supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for a 20-to-30-day “hold the line” strategy in a wartime scenario, ordering the military to “fight and preserve our forces” before assistance under the Mutual Defense Treaty could arrive.

Speaking at the opening of the AFP’s annual Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa (AJEX DAGIT-PA) at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Brawner said Manila’s allies “are expecting us to fight the war ourselves during the first part of the conflict.”

“We have to rely on ourselves first,” The Philippine Star quoted Brawner as saying in an interview, stressing that Filipino forces would “be the ones to go to war first.”

He framed the ongoing drills as a key test of the military’s unilateral defense plan and the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which shifts the AFP’s focus to protecting the entire archipelago, its exclusive economic zone, and outlying islands.

Preparing for Modern Threats, New Command Launch

This year’s AJEX DAGIT-PA ran in early November and integrated land, sea, air, cyber, and electromagnetic operations.

Troops have practiced attacks on the Malampaya gas platform in Palawan and the defense of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, where tensions with China continue.

Brawner said the activities are “strategic rehearsals for real-world contingencies,” not mere simulations, according to Defense News.

The exercise also marked the first major role for the newly activated AFP Strategic Command, which will eventually take over operational control in wartime to support the AFP chief’s full focus on advising the president.

Brawner said the change addresses lessons showing the General Headquarters “cannot transform overnight into a full-blown battle staff” during a conflict