Bayan Muna, Leftist Partylists Blocks Procurement of Multi-Role Fighter Jets from Sweden
Two Czech Gripens policing over Lithunia. Img credit wikimedia commons
The AFP Modernization Program has met some roadblocks after leftist lawmakers led by Bayan Muna blocked the transfer of funds to procure Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) aircraft for the Philippine Air Force.
Senators Enrile, Legarda and Sotto slashed Php8 billion from the DSWD’s 2016 CCT budget, and added Php2 billion for a total P10 billion specific allocation for the PAF so it can buy at least 4 MRFs.
But the House Appropriations Committee led by Davao City representative Isidro Ungab, with the leftist party lists (Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teachers, Kabataan Partylist) and of course Sec. Soliman raised such unneeded fighter jets that the Bicameral Budget Committee was forced to return the funds to the original owner, leaving the PAF with only over a billion pesos additional funds.
The Philippine Air Force on its part has been eyeing the Swedish JAS39 Gripen for its MRF program after the successful delivery of the first batch of South Korean made FA-50.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. The aircraft is capable of air combat, attack, and reconnaissance missions.
The Php10 billion funds could have bought 4 units of JAS39 Gripen, considered being one of the best Multi-Role Fighter aircraft in the international market.
With the blocking of funds the leftist groups who believed to be pro-China, the PAF is left with nothing.
/Cheryl Payumo/
