AFP exec cites importance of cyber ops to PH security

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27, 2023): AFP exec cites importance of cyber ops to PH security (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP vice chief of staff Air Force Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – A ranking military official underscored the importance of cyber operations as part of the "collective means" to defend the nation.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Cyber Group (AFPCyG) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, AFP vice chief of staff Air Force Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura said "cyber operation is part of our national and collective defense means".

He also echoed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s guidance of recognizing the significance of cyber capabilities as a command and leadership tool.

“Those [are] capabilities that provide situational awareness and actionable intelligence for military and decision-makers to guide and execute their command and control directives,” he added.

Cordura also said cyber operations are the heart of the military's C4ISTAR systems.

C4ISTAR refers to the "Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance".

"It is a game changer. The application of cyber fundamentally changes the nature of war thereby inevitably shifting the paradigm on how we operate in a continuum of peace, conflict, crisis, and war," he added.

Cordura also commended the AFPCyG, headed by Army Col. Walter Icaro, for their unwavering service in cyberspace operations.

The AFPCyG also renewed commitment to the mission of defending cyberspace as one of the AFP's domains and building its robust cyberspace capabilities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204363