Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte criticized Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. for his statement that the US-deployed Typhon missile systems 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 Typhon missile system was recently set up by the US military during joint exercises with Philippine troops, a move seen by many as a show of strengthened defense cooperation.
Duterte, the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, questioned Brawner’s priorities and loyalty, urging him to “guarantee first” that he could prevent any possible retaliation before “boasting” about the missiles’ range. He further asked whether the general was “willing to gamble 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?” Duterte said, accusing the AFP leadership of endangering ordinary Filipinos by “playing hero” for foreign interests.
He added that the nation’s biggest threats were not external but internal — pointing to corruption, wasteful projects, and unchecked misuse of public funds. “Don’t lecture us about defending the country if you cannot even defend the people from thieves in uniforms and suits,” he said.
Citing how China handles corrupt officials, Duterte remarked that in the Philippines, “they get promotions and press briefings.” He ended his statement by telling Brawner, “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.”
