Noy gov’t prioritizes AFP modernization — Lacierda

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 9): Noy gov’t prioritizes AFP modernization — Lacierda

The Aquino administration will remain focused on attaining a minimum credible defense position to protect the country’s sovereignty against both external and internal threats, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Lacierda said the Aquino government has already accomplished a lot in modernizing the country’s police and military.

Lacierda’s statements came in the midst of some calls among lawmakers to increase the 2014 budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) so that they could readily respond against external and internal threats.

But Lacierda said the current thrust of the government is modernizing the Philippine police and military.

“In only a span of three years we have devoted a substantial amount of money toward modernizing our armed forces,” Lacierda said in the interview.

Under the AFP Modernization Law, the Aquino administration was able to acquire a Hamilton class cutter from the US — the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. The navy is also awaiting the arrival of another naval ship from the US, he said.

The military also acquired several combat helicopters from Poland with the first four choppers now being used by the Air Force. There are additional deliveries of more choppers as well as jet fighters most probably from South Korea.

“We are going to achieve what we have always maintained, what the President has always said — a minimum credible defense position; and if the lawmakers would wish to add to the budget of the AFP, again, we are going through a budget deliberation process,” Lacierda said.

“It is within the process itself, as to their discretion how they would like to assist in further modernizing our forces,” he added.

He said that if Congress wants to add to the budget for the military and the police, it would be a great help for the country, as adding any amount should be in the budget process and budget deliberations.

Modernizing the Philippine military is seen as a necessity for the country as tension rises in the West Philippine Sea, and as other claimant countries now aggressively pursue their respective claims to the contested territory.

Among the concerns for the Philippines are the alleged continuous patrols of China near the shoals within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

http://tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/15163-noy-gov-t-prioritizes-afp-modernization-lacierda