Philippine President Benigno Aquino (left) and former president Fidel Ramos salute during the celebration of the 77th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila yesterday.
MANILA: President Benigno Aquino III said that the days of a “rusty” Philippine Navy are over, during the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) anniversary yesterday.
Aquino, who took the field instead of riding a military jeep or “the white carabao” while trooping the line during the 77th founding anniversary celebration of the AFP, assured the military leadership of his administration’s support for the military modernisation programme while indirectly taking a swipe at China.
“Our sailors’ fear of getting infected by tetanus from our rusty ships has ended,” the president declared in the yearly military event.
Without directly referring to the territorial row over the South China Sea, where China has been putting forward its territorial claim to almost the entire region more aggressively, the president said that once modern Philippine Navy ships are operational, the Philippines would be at par with foreign intruders claiming the country’s maritime domain.
He added that the Navy should now start preparing its ports for these modern warships that would be deployed to protect the country’s maritime domain.
The president was apparently referring to four modern warships which the Department of National Defence (DND) is negotiating to acquire from Italy.
Two of these warships are missile and torpedo firing Maestrale Class ships, which are expected to be delivered to the country next year.
“The days of our troops’ fear of ‘tetanus’ more than other nations claim over our territory are over,” the president declared in his speech.
The president also said that it was also about time for aging Army military vehicles to retire for new and faster tanks and trucks, while pointing to the assembled military vehicles, ambulances and armoured personnel carriers inside the Camp Aguinaldo parade ground.
He also pointed out that soldiers should be armed with modern weapons as well as force protection equipment for them to make the Filipino people safe and away from any dangers ahead, as he urged them to also pay their tribute to the people they served because of their unwavering support to the government.
Under the military modernisation programme, the Philippine Army plans to acquire a land-based defence system which includes the acquisition of big ticket items, including modern tanks and high-impact artillery batteries.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is also fast-tracking its programmed acquisition of a squadron of fighter jets and radars in order to protect the country’s airspace.
“Consider all these as an early Christmas from the Filipino people for overflowing trust in you,” the President told the troops.
AFP chief General Jessie Dellosa, for his part, said that Filipino soldiers were ever thankful to the president and the commander-in-chief for his full support to the military’s modernisation programme.
Dellosa said the government’s Pabahay Programme had already benefited 9,388 soldiers, and with the recent signing of the New AFP Modernisation Act, the AFP will now be able to procure needed military equipment to upgrade its fighting capabilities.
“Slowly but continuously we are now procuring military hardware to upgrade our fighting capabilities so that we will no longer rely on outside help (to defend us),” Dellosa said.
He added that even before the New AFP Modernisation Act was signed, the president had earmarked P28bn ($666m) to modernise the military.
The Philippine star
