Manila, March 18 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines' vast territory requires it to have a large fleet of "multi-role fighters" (MRFs) to fully protect it from hostile intruders.

"May minimum impact quantity kung mag-order ka. Hindi naman puedeng umorder ka ngayon ng konti, susunod mo ng ilan taon, dahil ang presyo nung ay tritriple. May minimum force size na kailangan (There is a so-called minimum impact quantity needed if you are ordering such assets. You cannot contract for a few, and order again a few years later as the price for this kind of equipment will triple)," he said in an exclusive interview with select reporters Tuesday.

And for the Philippines, a minimum force requir...