Negros troops undergoing Battalion of Excellence training at
Fort Magsaysay
in Nueva Ecija, received brand-new US made Remington M4 rifles yesterday, as
part of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri said Army special
units and infantry battalions under training will be prioritized in the
distribution of the M4 rifles.
The 79th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division is
expected to return to Negros Oriental after completion of their training.
The government purchased 50,629 units of M4 rifles under the
joint Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps Assault Rifle Acquisition
Project. Two months ago, the AFP received the first batch that totaled 27,300
units.
Each gun costs the government P38,000.
Iriberri said the government saved about P1.2 billion
because of the transparent and effective procurement process with the bidding
attended by representatives of academe, media, among others.
The P1.2 billion savings will be used for the purchase of
12,000 M14 rifles, bringing to 62,000 the firearms to be issued to AFP
frontline units.
Maj. Gen. Rey Leonard Guerrero, newly-installed 3rd Infantry
Division commander, said he expects other Army infantry units in Negros and Panay to also get their share of the new M4 rifles.
The 5.56mm M4 rifles replace the early models of M-16 and
M-16A1 rifle, majority of which are now as old as the Vietnam War era, and are
in such poor condition that they need refurbishing or replacement.
AFP chief, General Gregorio Pio Catapang, who led the
distribution of about 400 M4 rifles to the personnel of the Light Reaction
Regiment of the Special Operations Command and 79IB in Nueva Ecija, said one of
the most important elements of a strong democratic country is a strong Armed
Forces.
“It is imperative that its soldiers are equipped with modern
military hardware and provided with advanced military training in order to
successfully perform its mission, which is protecting the people and ensuring
the sovereignty of the land,” Catapang also said.
The 79IB is headed by Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua.
Guerrero said he will work for the retention of the 20th
Infantry Battalion, even if the 79IB returns to Negros Oriental.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/September/05/negor1.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.