Teodoro wants P2 B in AFP budget realigned

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said here yesterday that he has requested Malacañang to realign close to P2 billion in the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to replenish supplies due to the ongoing conflict in Mindanao and other operations.

In an interview during the 110th founding anniversary of the Philippine Military Academy, Teodoro said the AFP budget was initially intended for the procurement of new equipment for various missions, including disaster rescue and relief operations.

However, he clarified that the funds for realignment are not part of the AFP’s 2009 budget but that of the Capability Upgrade Program allocated for the procurement of “mission essential equipment.”

“I have requested for the realignment of the budget from items whose bidding process could not be completed this year, because if you remember we have been operating since January and have been very much involved in disaster operations,” he said.

He said the AFP has played a big role in the conduct of disaster rescue and relief operations which has eaten up a considerable amount of supplies such as fuel, maintenance, and other operating expenses.

Teodoro said the budget realignment would cover the replenishment of ammunition and other combat related items used up because of the ongoing pursuit operations against renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, particularly commanders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo and Aleem Sulaiman alias Commander Pangalian.

The defense chief said the realignment is a procedural matter to speed up the replenishment of supplies consumed in disaster and internal security operations.

But this, he said, would not affect the program since the amount to be realigned would be replaced once the budget for next year is released.

Teodoro had earlier assured the public that the global crisis would not affect the AFP’s modernization program because of its systematic spending program that ensures that the right equipment goes to the soldiers in the frontlines. – James Mananghaya