THE EASTERN Mindanao Command said they are willing to provide post-action reports of any bombing incidents involving aircrafts of the Tactical Operations Group XI.
EastMinCom spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey, in an interview with TIMES, said the new jets of the Philippine Air Force are not being used to deliver bombs in military targets such as camps of the New People’s Army or nearby communities.
Were the AFP to use air support, he said, the TOG is likely to use crew-operated weapons such as heavy machine guns on board choppers such as the MG520s based in Davao City.
Were the AFP to use air support, he said, the TOG is likely to use crew-operated weapons such as heavy machine guns on board choppers such as the MG520s based in Davao City.
“May freedom of information na eh,” Balagtey said, referring to the executive order of President Rodrigo Duterte which allows the release of public documents upon request.
The EO on the FOI does not include state secrets among the information to be readily available to the public. However, Balagtey said that the bomb assessment reports were mandatory and available.
Last week, unverified posts online circulated on social media purportedly showing FA50s dropping “bombs” in Abra.
The military is yet to officially recognize the incidents.
Balagtey echoed the statement of various officials who said that the FA50s currently in the air bases in the Philippines were purchased specifically to train against external threats.
At the moment, there are six FA50s in the PAF’s inventory, with two more on the way. A total of 12 supersonic jets are expected to be added to the country’s air assets.
Balagtey said the standard operating procedure for bombing raids involving aircraft was for ground forces to coordinate the attack. This involves the identification of high priority targets, the directing through the use of coordinates, and the confirmation of bomb damage.
At the moment, the forces of the Eastmincomm have not used the jets yet, he said.
Balagtey said the jets cannot even be used for reconnaissance purposes as these were “too fast.”
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte publicly said the AFP and the Philippine National Police may use all of the new tools in the military arsenal, including the jets and choppers, to combat the NPA.
Last week, unverified posts online circulated on social media purportedly showing FA50s dropping “bombs” in Abra.
The military is yet to officially recognize the incidents.
Balagtey echoed the statement of various officials who said that the FA50s currently in the air bases in the Philippines were purchased specifically to train against external threats.
At the moment, there are six FA50s in the PAF’s inventory, with two more on the way. A total of 12 supersonic jets are expected to be added to the country’s air assets.
Balagtey said the standard operating procedure for bombing raids involving aircraft was for ground forces to coordinate the attack. This involves the identification of high priority targets, the directing through the use of coordinates, and the confirmation of bomb damage.
At the moment, the forces of the Eastmincomm have not used the jets yet, he said.
Balagtey said the jets cannot even be used for reconnaissance purposes as these were “too fast.”
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte publicly said the AFP and the Philippine National Police may use all of the new tools in the military arsenal, including the jets and choppers, to combat the NPA.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.