Manila, July 20 -- Pending the announcement on the next Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, he is expected to focus towards having a "credible deterrence building measures" to further improve the country's external defense.

This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in a press conference Monday, noting that a list of recommendees who will succeed outgoing AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has been submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"May (list of) recommendees kay Presidente. Nasa sa kanya na yun (A list of recommendees have been submitted to the President," he said.

Teodoro declined to comment on how many names are in the list, saying this is a restricted information...