Military defers plan to buy fighters, frigates

Lay the groundwork before adding to the machinery.

The Department of National Defense (DND) is putting off its planned purchase of fighter jets and navy frigates and will instead give military engineers additional resources to implement more development projects in the countryside.

This developed as the thrust of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program underwent a radical shift from preparing for external aggression to regaining the initiative in addressing the insurgency problem by approaching it with a combination of military deployment and socio-economic development.

Instead of buying fighter jets and frigates, Reyes said, the AFP will concentrate on developing the capabilities of its five Army engineering brigades and one Navy Seabees unit to construct school buildings, water systems, roads and bridges and implementing skills training programs in the provinces.

During a closed-door hearing, Reyes and newly appointed AFP chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor briefed members of the Senate committee on defense and security on the status of the AFP modernization program, which began in 1995 under then President Fidel Ramos.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Reyes confirmed the shift in the AFP modernization thrust. He cited changes in the country’s political and security situation as the factors that prompted the AFP’s focus to revert to hometown security, rather than on preparing for external aggression.

"We are expanding the role of our engineering brigades," Reyes said, explaining that the participation of the Filipino soldier in development work will help address the root causes of insurgency, such as poverty, underdevelopment and the lack of basic public services in rural areas.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, vice chairman of the Senate defense and security committee, said Reyes’ revelation indicated that the government acknowledged that the threat posed by communist insurgents and Muslim Mindanao separatists has become more "critical" than the threat of foreign aggression.

It is common knowledge that the New People’s Army (NPA) and Muslim separatist groups recruit new members by playing on the discontent of people who live in poverty and are deprived of basic government services.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., who chairs the Senate defense committee, said he agrees with the decision of the DND to set aside "big purchases" of military equipment. Magsaysay added that the government is facing serious budgetary problems anyway.

"We are looking at the economic side of the AFP modernization program," Magsaysay said. "There is a big thrust now on human resource (development) and skills training."

The AFP, Biazon recalled, began belittling the communist insurgency threat in 1995, when the NPA ranks were reportedly reduced from 26,000 troops to a mere 5,000 fighters.

During this time, Biazon said, Ramos and Congress gave the sole responsibility of maintaining hometown security to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

At present the NPA now has a force of 11,000 fighters, Biazon said, quoting military estimates.

Under the modernization program, Biazon said, the AFP was supposed to purchase three Corvette frigates for the Philippine Navy and 24 F-16 fighter jets to equip two squadrons of the Philippine Air Force. These planned purchases will now be placed at the "lowest priority" of the AFP shopping list, Biazon said.

Instead, Biazon said, the modernization purchases will be limited to communications equipment and firearms for individual soldiers, helicopters and small, but swift, sea vessels.