Malampaya fund freeze to affect AFP modernization

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 2): Malampaya fund freeze to affect AFP modernization

The Supreme Court’s decision to freeze the discretionary portion of the Malampaya gas fund will affect the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said yesterday.

The non-release of the Malampaya gus funds will affect the maintenance of the Navy’s two Hamilton-class cutters, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, Gazmin said.

“That will have an effect to our modernization because we are getting funds from it for our modernization,” he told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.

He said the money used to maintain, refurbish and equip the two warships, Del Pilar and Alcaraz, are taken from the Malampaya gas funds.

“It will definitely affect the modernization…Not really delay because the ships are already there. What will happen is we won’t be able to maintain (the cutters)… (it’s) more on the maintenance side,” he said of the SC decision.

But Gazmin expressed confidence that the TRO would not last long, saying: “Eventually, the needs of the Armed Forces would be understood.”

Last Sept. 10, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the release of PDAF and Malampaya funds in the wake of the controversy over the alleged misuse and abuse of P10 billion in “pork barrel.”

The SC acted on three petitions filed asking for a stop to the release of PDAF and Malampaya funds.

In 2011, President Aquino ordered the allotment of P8 billion Malampaya funds for the AFP modernization program.]

Part of the funds was used in the acquisition of the two warships.

http://www.mb.com.ph/malampaya-fund-freeze-to-affect-afp-modernization/