DAVAO City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte criticized Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. for his remarks that US-deployed Typhon missiles in the Philippines could reach China.
“So is this now our idea of defense? Showing off for America even if it’s clear that Filipinos will be the first to burn from another nation’s retaliation?” Duterte said in a statement on Saturday.
The US military recently deployed Typhon missile systems in the Philippines as part of joint exercises with Filipino troops, a move that drew concern from China and local critics.
Duterte, son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, challenged Brawner to “guarantee first” that he could prevent any possible Chinese retaliation before boasting about the missile system’s range. He questioned whether Brawner was willing to risk Filipino lives “just to show how close he is to his bosses.”
“The real question: Who are you really serving? The Philippines or the CIA? Because if you’re truly for the Filipino, you wouldn’t play hero in a press conference and make ordinary Filipinos the collateral damage,” Duterte said.
He argued that the country’s real problems lie not in external threats but in corruption, useless infrastructure projects, and the “plunder of the nation’s coffers without fear.”
Duterte also hit back at Brawner’s stance on national defense, saying military officials should first address corruption within their ranks.
“Don’t lecture us about defending the country if you can’t even defend the people from thieves in uniforms and suits,” he said.
Citing China’s harsh penalties for corrupt generals, Duterte added, “In China, generals caught stealing end up before a firing squad. In the Philippines, they get promotions and press briefings.”
“Get your priorities straight, general. The Filipino people do not need someone who is trigger-happy for another country; they need a leader who will fight for them and protect their future, not offer them as targets. Don’t treat us like fools,” Duterte said.
He concluded that the Philippines seeks peace, security, and sovereignty, “not missiles with someone else’s fingerprints.”