While AFP Chief lands on Kalayaan Island, Senate passes military modernization bill

05/12/2015 – Manila | For the first time under the Aquino administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. visited one of the disputed islands on Monday.

The Kalayaan Island, a Palawan Municipality is heavily controlled by Philippine Military and is part of the island groups that China want to reclaim. Kalayaan has around 200 Filipino residents and houses hundreds of Philippine army and marines.

The general said his visit is not to challenge China’s ongoing reclamation, but as a response to Kalayaan mayor’s invitation.

“We were invited by the mayor to visit and at the same time it is a farewell visit to the troops because I am just about to retire. I want to see our troops here and look into their welfare and at the same time coordinate with the mayor with what we could do at the Armed Forces for Pag-asa,” he said in a press briefing here.

“I wanted to visit Palawan because of the recent snap elections…and of course, for the longest time, I wanted to visit this place and this has long been planned. Na overtaken by events lang,” he added.

Meanwhile, the senate on Monday passes a bill to expedite the modernization of Philippine military equipment, weapon system, and other military hardware.

“The highly, tedious, circuitous and complicated procurement process of the AFP thwarts the full implementation of the law,” Trillanes, author and sponsor of Senate Bill 2269, said.

Trillanes said, the bill would allow the military to purchase needed weapon systems, aircrafts, ships, and other needed equipment in the next fifteen years.

Senate president Franklin Drilon said the bill was part of the Senate’s efforts “to improve the capabilities of the nation’s armed forces by ensuring the speedy and efficient provision of military equipment and supplies so urgently needed by our fighting men and women.”

The request of US and Japanese military to use the Philippine military bases is yet to be determined, but sources said the final decision will be heard sooner or later.

Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia are all upgrading their military capabilities amid China’s aggressive land reclamation projects in South China Sea that create tensions around its neighboring countries, including the Philippines.

See Also: US to Send Troops, Warships, Fighter Jets to the Philippines Amid Spratly Dispute

/Fanny Jalacjac/ Assisted Press Manila

 

 

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