P10 B for more arms, but ‘war is last resort’

MANILA, Philippines — The government will spend P10 billion to buy more weapons, vehicles, and other equipment to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which, after losing 27 troops in clashes with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels this month, maintained Sunday that “waging war will be the last resort.”

President Benigno S. Aquino III has authorized the fund release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the modernization program of the military, said his deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte. “The President has instructed the DBM to release P10 billion for the AFP modernization program.

They are preparing the Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) for the fund release. This will be charged against the 2010 and 2011 appropriations at P5 billion each,” Valte said over government radio.

The fund release for the AFP modernization plan was announced following the death of 27 soldiers in MILF attacks, including a clash with alleged Moro rebels that saw 19 troops dead in Basilan last week.

From the P5 billion taken from the 2010 budget, Valte said the AFP plans to equip the Philippine Army with 14 armored personnel carrier, 272 20-man pack radios and 3,480 force protection which totals to P1.4 billion. The Philippine Navy will procure 1 strategic sealift vessel that costs P2 billion, while the Philippine Air Force targets to acquire 1 special mission aircraft and 2 light lift aircraft amounting to P1.6 billion.

This spending on the AFP is a bid to enhance the troops’ capability to protect the country from all security threats, Malacañang said.

Asked if the AFP modernization funds will be released due to the Basilan incident, Valte said: “No. This is something that was already in the works. It is only a coincidence that it will be released now.”

The other P5 billion that will come from the 2011 budget will be used by the military to buy vehicles for civil military operations, for health services and disaster response activities, according to Valte.

She said the Philippine Army will purchase 32 5-ton dump trucks and 55 special purpose vehicles, while the Philippine Air Force will purchase 2 search-and-rescue helicopters, 30 special purpose vehicles and 15 amphibian vehicles.

The military will also acquire necessary weapons and communication equipment, such as for the Philippine Army—1,376 handheld radios, 210 AV configuration radios and 100 base radios, as well as 150 mortars (60mm); and for the Philippine Air Force—78 units of audio-video equipment, 160 portable radio receivers, 100 sniper rifle systems and 2,000 standard weapons systems.

To prevent abuse of the funds, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the military is required submit a comprehensive report on the implementation status of the AFP Modernization Program.

“We are ensuring that each and every peso spent by the AFP will directly result in better equipment and other operational support for our men-and-women in uniform,” Abad said.

President Aquino earlier vowed his government will seek justice for the death of the soldiers in Basilan but will not wage an all-out war with the MILF.

But the military will not wage an all-out war as the government exhausts all avenues in dealing with the problem in Mindanao, said Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman,

While there are some sectors urging the government to declare an all-out war against the MILF, many also expressed support to the AFP for their “display of professionalism upholding the peace process even with such painful loss.”

Burgos said the AFP fully appreciates that expression of sympathy by many Filipinos over the death of their soldiers in the recent events in Mindanao, but stressed: “Waging war is the last resort, lagi yan. Tingnan natin ang history, lahat napag-uusapan sa table (Waging war is always the last resort. Let’s look at history – everything can be discussed on the table).”

Burgos said the recent events in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Lanao Del Norte have fueled emotions of many Filipinos, even as he admits: “Sa panig namin ganun din kami. Tao lang kami (On our side (in the AFP), we feel the same. We’re only human).”

However, he stressed it must always be remembered: “Hindi sa lahat kailangan gamitin natin is the barrel of the gun, kailangan pag-usapan nang mahusay. We have persons in authority na alam natin nakakaalam sa sitwasyon (Not in all times should we use the gun; dialogue is needed. We have persons in authority who, we (military) know, understand the situation).”

The army spokesman went on to say that if the military or the government will use violence or an all-uit offensive as the answer to the existing situation in Mindanao, it will only result to more loss of lives not only on the part of the military but also the civilian community.

“Sabihin natin makakaganti tayo. But let us look at the casualties not only on the part of the military but also the community, those who will be displaced. We have to study all those factors,” said Burgos.

Meantime, Valte said they will leave to the military leadership how government troops would go after the criminal elements in Mindanao despite an existing truce with the MILF.

“The President has already given the order to go after lawless elements and the stern warning of the President is that anybody helping or coddling the lawless elements, you will be included. You will also be considered enemies of the state and we will leave that to the AFP to determine on how that is to be done,” she said.

Genalyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin