P-Noy reminds Air Force men to be professional, non-partisan

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino reminded Air Force officers and personnel yesterday to observe professionalism and non-partisanship saying it’s the people who are the real commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

“Ang totoong commander-in-chief nating lahat ay ang sambayanang Pilipino. Ang inyong chain-of-command ay hindi nagwawakas sa akin, dahil ako din ay may pananagutan sa sambayanan (The real commander-in-chief is the Filipino nation. The chain of command does not end in me because I am accountable to the people myself),” Mr. Aquino said in a speech at the celebration of the Philippine Air Force’s 63rd anniversary at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The ceremonies went on smoothly despite the heavy rains that drenched even the President.

In his speech, Mr. Aquino also promised to improve the country’s air defense capability as well as address the needs of PAF personnel including arms, equipment, housing and even healthcare.

“Kasama na rin dito ang pinaplano at pinipresenta na pag-upgrade sa mga makina, pagbili ng mga bagong air assets, at surveillance equipment upang magawa ninyo ang inyong trabaho (In line with this is the plan to upgrade machinery, purchase of new air assets and surveillance equipment to help you do your job),” he said. “Kailangan ding punan ang kakulangan sa iba pang logistical at maintenance requirements upang makamit ninyo ang inyong mga misyon at kinakailangang flight hours (There is also a need to address shortfall in logistical and maintenance requirements so that you can accomplish your mission and the required flight hours),” he added.

“I will not make false promises to you or tell you things simply for the sake of making positive headlines,” he said.

“I want you to know that if my expectations of you are high, it is because I know that our people’s expectations of all of us are the highest,” he said.

“The foundation of the morale and esprit de corps of any military organization, is a merit-based officer corps, issuing clear orders that comply with both the spirit and letter of the law,” Mr. Aquino said.

“The proper relationship between civilians and the military exists where there is trust, and that trust depends on strategic harmony,” he added.

The President also directed Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to review the country’s national defense policies. “My fundamental philosophy is there cannot be right solutions without the corresponding correct identification of the problems,” he said.

“Secretary Gazmin is undertaking, at my direction, a comprehensive review of the many aspects of our national defense with this orientation in mind,” he said.

He also hailed the heroism displayed by PAF personnel in rescue operations during natural calamities.

P7-B modernization

The government will spend about P7 billion on aircraft and surveillance systems, according to PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena.

He said the Air Force would get 15 combat utility and night-capable helicopters, 10 refurbished UH-1H helicopters, a long-range maritime patrol plane, a refurbished C-130 transport, basic trainer jets and long-range radar systems.

“We have the plans in place for transition from internal security to territorial defense,” Rabena told reporters.

He said eight combat utility helicopters from Polish company PZL Swidnik, a unit of Anglo-Italian helicopter company Agusta Westland, would be delivered next year.

Mr. Aquino said a secure and stable country was needed to attract investment that could create jobs.

“That’s why they’re called investments,” Mr. Aquino later told reporters of the new equipment, adding the defense department was studying schemes to raise funds outside the annual budget.

“There are creative schemes that will not make the government lose its assets but will be in a position, like a lease, that we can enter into and then fund what we need,” he said.

Gazmin said he had asked the military to make an inventory of available assets, including land that could be leased on long-term to property developers.

“We have many camps within the capital region that can be leased for a minimum of 50 years. These are prime property that can generate billions of pesos and finance our modernization program,” the defense secretary said.

PAF chief to keep job?

President Aquino also hinted at retaining Rabena as Air Force chief amid talks of massive leadership changes in the armed forces.

“I believe that through the able leadership of Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, who handled the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Plans and Programs for a long time, the objectives that I laid before you will be attained,” Aquino said in Filipino.

In an ambush interview, Rabena said he has not received any order asking him to leave his post. He, however, stressed that everything would depend on the decision of Mr. Aquino, who is also the AFP commander-in-chief.

– With Alexis Romero