Lethal Autonomous Weapons: The Stance of the Philippines

This paper examines the societal implications of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). The Philippines’ position in its policy on LAWS is to support a specific ban on fully autonomous weapons systems with regulated oversight of human-supervised and semi-autonomous systems. This decision balances adherence to international humanitarian law and ethical military technology use, ensuring human involvement in critical warfare decisions and minimizing unintended harm. The policy enables the Philippines to utilize technological advancements in defense responsibly, which is in line with ethical standards and international law. Influenced by the insights of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, it harmonizes its diplomatic and military considerations, upholding humanitarian and legal standards while addressing strategic military needs. Lastly, it provides policy recommendations for regulating LAWS to prevent the proliferation of such technologies that could destabilize global peace and security.