Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri fully supports the modernization of the Philippine Army, transitioning from focusing on internal threats to addressing territorial defense under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ development plan, the "Pagkakaisa 2023-2028."

Zubiri noted that he has witnessed the Army's efforts to keep towns secure as well as how it has allowed rebel returnees to reintegrate themselves as valued contributions to society.

He expressed his full support for the Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps Act; pending Army-related measures in the Senate, the most important of which is the National Defense Act, which is a priority measure of the Marcos administration and aims to provide a mechanism for the coordination of departments and agencies in addressing the multifaceted facet of national defense and security; and the bill rationalizing veterans' disability pensions, which has been approved.

Meanwhile, Zubiri paid a visit to the Philippine Navy in early May to bless two new patrol gunboats and the recently refurbished Naval Shipbuilding Yard at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City.