The Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) has strongly condemned the sanctions and entry bans imposed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and his family, calling the move coercive and unfriendly.

In a statement, the group of retired military leaders said the action is not a legitimate diplomatic measure but an attempt to intimidate Philippine leadership and undermine the country’s sovereign rights, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

“We view this coercive action not as a legitimate exercise of diplomacy, but as an aggressive, unjustified, and unfriendly act aimed at intimidating leadership and undermining the Philippines' sovereign right to defend its territorial integrity,” AGFO said.

“AGFO stands in absolute solidarity with Secretary Teodoro. His firm stance and vocal defense of our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea are not ‘irresponsible remarks’—they are duty-bound expressions of a nation defending what is legally and rightfully its own,” the group said.

AGFO also described the sanctions as an attempt to isolate Philippine defense leadership and weaken national resolve, while commending Teodoro’s refusal to be pressured by foreign powers.

The group reaffirmed its support for the Department of National Defense and the country’s uniformed services, stressing their continued role in safeguarding Philippine waters amid ongoing regional tensions.