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Story summary
- Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced plans to expand drone development and acquisition.
- He said the Philippines will buy more guided-missile corvettes and defence assets.
- The 2027 defence budget seeks a 6.3% rise, allocating 50 billion pesos for drones, 25% more than 2026.
- He linked drone push to rising tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.
- Teodoro said priority is secure communications, integration and AI-sensitive technology, with talks underway with several countries.
