AFP has bigger wars to face than be involved in coup plots—Catapang

From GMA News (Aug 18): AFP has bigger wars to face than be involved in coup plots—Catapang
The country has bigger wars to face in the 21st century and the Armed Forces of the Philippines can't afford to be involved in petty bickering among politicians, AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang said on Monday.

"Sabi ko nga in the 21st century we will be faced by global problems, global terrorism, global climate change, global maritime concern, and then global transnational crime," Catapang told Jessica Soho on GMA News TV's State of the Nation.
Catapang didn't mention it specifically but the Philippines is involved in a dispute with China over territories in the West Philippine Sea.

The new military chief asked for support for the modest modernization the Armed Forces was undergoing.

"So ito pong first horizon, we will have a minimum defense posture. Kumbaga sa boxing hindi basta-basta ma-knockdown ng kung sino mang maging kalaban natin," Catapang said.

"Kahit bantam weight tayo kahit siguro heacyweight yung klalaban yung first round naman siguro magsu-survive tayo," he added.

Catapang asked for a supplemental budget after the Disbursement Acceleration Program was declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

With the new wars that the country would face, he said it was important that facilities such as military camps be improved as well.

A former member of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, Catapang clarified that he was never involved in any destabilization attempt against the administration of former President Corazon Aquino in the 1980s.

He said that after the 1986 Edsa Revolution, he suggested to RAM leader, then Colonel Gregorio Honasan, if they could already disband the reform movement. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/375383/news/nation/afp-has-bigger-wars-to-face-than-be-involved-in-coup-plots-catapang