What’s wrong with preparations for AFP upgrade?—Gonzales

23 April 2010

IS the Arroyo government into “11th hour” preparations for acquisitions under the Armed Forces modernization program?

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales’ quick answer is yes.

“Yes, we are rushing what we can still do under the AFP modernization program in our very limited time left.  Aren’t we, Filipinos, known to be good in the last two minutes?” he said.

Gonzales said the defense department, together with concerned AFP officials, has now been looking into various offers coming from some countries.

Gonzales emphasized that any deal that may possibly result from these preparations would be according to law and open to public scrutiny.

The defense and military establishments are now keen on acquiring an armor system for the army; multi-role vessels for the navy; and long-range patrol aircraft, medium lift aircraft and attack helicopters for the air force in the next two to three years, according to the defense chief.

Gonzales said pushing the AFP modernization program has always been among his top priority concerns upon his designation as defense secretary because it is very important in any national drive to build a wealthy and progressive country.

“It is not only about building our defense capability.  It is also about restoring our people’s pride in their armed forces and triggering their pride for our country. This national pride is essential in mobilizing our people for our country’s transformation from Third World to First World,” Gonzales said.

The defense chief lamented that the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 has given the military the opportunity to modernize in 15 years with a total fund of P331B but the law is already expiring this year and the AFP has so far received only P28.9B of the fund.

Gonzales said the financial condition of the country and legal constraints prevented his predecessors from pursuing the AFP modernization program in earnest. For instance, he said, notwithstanding the fund provision of the law, the defense department can only spend up to P5 billion per year from this fund.

Gonzales said President Arroyo and Congress have allowed the defense department to take greater strides this year towards AFP modernization by granting it the multi-year obligation authority (MYOA). “It is like allowing us to buy appliances on installment basis,” he explained.

Gonzales said he met with all the AFP major and other services and urged them not to waste this “golden opportunity.”

“We agreed to work 24/7 to accomplish the maximum achievable towards upgrading the country’s armed and other capabilities,” he said.

Gonzales said he asked the AFP to draw up a single, comprehensive list of equipment and weapons for priority acquisition based on the institution’s present needs to be more effective in carrying out its mandate and expanding roles.

To expedite the upgrading of the AFP and to avoid controversial biddings that attended previous acquisitions, Gonzales said he has introduced a change in the mode of procurement. Instead of dealing with private suppliers, he believes the country should get into government to government deals, particularly with reputable governments.

Gonzales emphasized that the country should achieve AFP modernization in the shortest time possible. But given the resource constraints of the country, the goal can be pursued in two phases.

The first phase, according to Gonzales, is a transitional one in which the country is phasing out from being focused on internal security and beginning to look at external defense.

“We are at this stage. We now need to upgrade our defense capability to a level that is ‘modest but lethal,’” Gonzales pointed out. He added that another consideration at present is the fact that disaster response has become an increasing part of the roles of the AFP.

“After ten years, full modernization can be pursued in earnest as the country becomes wealthy,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales believes that acquisitions for the first phase of the AFP modernization can be done in the next two to three years, but preparations can be made during the remaining months of the Arroyo government.

“This is what we are doing now,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales to AFP: Remain strong for democracy

18 April 2010

AMID the current confused political environment, fundamental institutions in the country like the Armed Forces of the Philippines must remain strong and ready to safeguard democracy.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales stressed this point on Friday in his welcome address to the 250-strong 85th Infantry Battalion deployed in Masbate to eradicate election-related violence and ensure an orderly and peaceful conduct of election in the province.

The defense chief received the troop at the Masbate seaport, together with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit and officials of the Independent Commission for the Dismantling of Private Armed Groups.

Gonzales emphasized the role of the Armed Forces in ensuring clean and peaceful elections in May as he reminded the soldiers that credible elections are the foundation of any democracy and peace and a working democracy are essential requirements to progress.

“Pakialaman natin ang ating eleksiyon dahil yan ang pundasyon ng ating demokrasya,” Gonzales told the soldiers, most of whom came from peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Haiti.

“Ngayon, nasa magulong pulitika ang ating bayan. Institutions like AFP must be strong… We will show to the whole nation that it is about time for the country to move forward… Panahon na para bigyan natin ng direksiyon ang ating bayan,” the defense chief said.

Gonzales told the soldiers that he was very happy for the “very good coordination” being done by the AFP, the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections for security preparations for the first-ever automated national election in the country. The three institutions held the day before a joint command conference in Camp Aguinaldo.
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“I am very proud of our Armed Forces. I will be your advocate now and after June 30,” Gonzales said.

“Do your duty. Clean up Masbate. Neutralize all the undesirable elements. Collect loose firearms and arrest goons,” Gonzales ordered the troop.

The 85th Infantry Battalion will reinforce the Joint AFP-PNP Special Task Force Masbate formed to address the lawlessness and political violence in the province which Gonzales had earlier described as a “terrorized community” and “in a state of man-made disaster.”

In the briefing at the Police Provincial Office that followed the welcome rites for the battalion, the Task Force Masbate reported that seven poll-related shooting incidents had occurred in the province since January 10, killing 6 persons.

With 11 identified private armed groups and at least 5,000 loose firearms, the entire province is categorized by Task Force Masbate as “election hot spot.”

It was raised in the discussion that there had also been kidnapping cases for campaign fundraising and prisoners were being used for criminal activities and probably also for partisan activities.

The deployment of the 85th IB raised the number of combined AFP and PNP personnel in Masbate to 1,847.

The Task Force Masbate’s anti-private armed groups campaign has to date resulted in the arrest of 33 persons, according to the Task Force.

Int’l defense community to watch AFP during May polls

18 April 2010

MEMBERS of the international defense community will be coming to the country to observe the conduct of the Armed Forces during the first ever automated national Philippine elections in May.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales made this disclosure this week during a joint command conference of senior military and police officials, together with officials of the National Security Council and of the Commission on Election, on security preparations for the May election.

Gonzales said he was inviting international observers from defense and military establishments worldwide to watch the behavior of the AFP during the election.

“I want the whole world to see how our Armed Forces will protect our election which is fundamental to any democracy,” Gonzales said.

Later, the defense chief made the same announcement in his addresses to the separate fora of battalion commanders in Mindanao and in the Visayas and in the reception ceremony for the 250-strong 85th Infantry Battalion deployed in Masbate, all also this week.

Gonzales said the President tasked him to “invite the world” to observe the upcoming election but he wants instead the international defense community to monitor the behavior of the Armed Forces during the election.

Gonzales noted that this would be a big challenge and good for the Armed Forces.

He said having international observers will foil attempts to discredit defense and military efforts to assist Comelec in ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May. The defense chief had earlier put the AFP under the full disposal of the Comelec.

“As you can see, there is really a proliferation now of groups that seek not simply to watch the conduct of our election, but to really convince our people that our Armed Forces, our police and the Comelec cannot be trusted. Well, we will prove them wrong,” Gonzales told his audiences.

“You know, when we launched People Power in 1986, we became the model in the world on how to pursue change peacefully. Now we are going to show the world that our Armed Forces, our police and our Comelec know how to conduct election. We will show the world that this nation knows how to exercise democracy at its best,” Gonzales said.

After hearing the presentations of the area commanders of the AFP and PNP on their security preparations for the upcoming election, Gonzales commended the two institutions as well as Comelec for their “very good coordination.”

“I am having a lot of very good feelings. Because I can see the very good coordination that has taken place among the AFP, the PNP and the Comelec,” Gonzales said.

The defense chief also thanked the electoral body “for trusting the AFP and the PNP.”