Poe faces Aquino’s ire over defence opinion
Nation building and social goals are a priority area for PH, as reminded by while dismissing a remark by Presidential Candidate Senator Grace Poe as a direct reaction to her criticism of the government’s decision to go in for procuring Force protection gear and armaments for the army instead of missiles.
It was surprising that he chose to broach the subject at a campaign speech in Caloocan yesterday since social issues are the main points of discussion and debate at campaign rallies; another surprising aspect was the tone of his reference to the remark, without naming her directly, he just called her “that candidate”.
His tirade went on to add that, by resorting to a procurement of missiles , the country would be pushing itself this in a direct collision course with “a giant country” since it tantamount to participation in an arms race. It is more important to preserve the money for building schools and devoting the available resources for planned social services like the conditional cash transfer.
Engaging in an arms race just to display superiority would deprive the nation-building programs of much-needed financial inputs.
Moreover, such vital issues and decisions need proper introspection and a detailed debate at the right levels and forums before a considered stance can be adopted.
The fact that the procurement of such superior and costly armaments, just for the sake of keeping missiles which cannot be used, is not warranted or in our best interests; if we choose to use them, it will mean war.
On the other hand, the procurement of the equipment for the army empowers them to actively engage on domestic frontiers in their fight against the Abu Sayaf Islamist rebels and The New people’s Army (NPA).
His tone and content reflects the intensity of the rivalry between President Aquino and Senator and Presidential candidate Grace Poe who was Aquino’s appointee to the post of Chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010.
She was the topper in the senatorial race on his party’s ticket.
There is also an ongoing case against her in the Supreme Court with interested parties seeking an early verdict under hopes to get her disqualified before the May 2016 Presidential elections.
Author: Umrao Singh
