THE Armed Forces of the Philippines will focus on getting more modern helicopters and naval fast craft under its modernization program so that it can address the internal security threats of the country, the incoming military chief said Thursday.
“[President-elect Rodrigo Duterte] would like to start by improving and updating equipment use for internal security operations so he will prioritize the acquisition of modern helicopters and fast craft, with night-fighting capabilities,” said incoming AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya.
Such platforms are useful in dealing with the country’s ongoing campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group and New People’s Army threats.
Visaya said acquisition of such equipment are included in the AFP Modernization Program as emphasized by the procurement of the night-capable AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopters of the Navy and Air Force.
The lack of night-capable helicopters and fast craft, according to the incoming AFP chief, hampered the military response when the ASG attacked Samal Island and kidnapped Canadians John Ridsel, Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Hall’s girlfriend Marites Flor during their Sept. 21 attack on a posh resort in Samal Island.
Ridsel was beheaded last April 25 while Hall was executed last June 13 after the Philippine and Canadian governments snubbed the ASG ransom demand amounting to around PHP600 million for the two Canadians.
Visaya also clarified that acquisition of equipment that will beefed up the external capabilities of the AFP will continue as part of the ongoing modernization program.
“It [modernization program] will continue, but items needed for internal security operations will be prioritized,” Visaya said.
According to outgoing Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, a total of 36 modernization projects, worth P41.2 billion, were completed and awarded under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.
The modernization program was first implemented in 1995 with the enactment of Republic Act No. 7898 which was amended by Republic Act No. 10349 in 2012.
Funding of the modernization programs will come from general appropriations, proceeds from the Malampaya gas project, remittance from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and annual allocations in the national government budget.