House to probe procurement of AFP helmets

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives will look into the procurement of combat helmets by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The investigation was prompted by a resolution filed by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and other members of the minority bloc led by Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora.

Albano yesterday said he drafted the resolution after the father of Army Lt. Francis Damian, one of three young officers killed in action in Zamboanga City, complained to him that his son died when a sniper’s bullet pierced through his helmet.

“Considering the circumstances surrounding the death of Lt. Damian, one cannot help but conclude that the combat helmet used by the valiant soldier was defective and did not conform with standard military specifications,” he said.

“Our soldiers who fight with bravery and dedication deserve our utmost support. Remedial legislation must be taken to improve the fighting capability and protect the welfare of our soldiers,” he said.

The three officers died while leading their men in battling a group of Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Zamboanga City.

Damian belonged to the Army’s light reaction company, an elite team that received training and equipment support from the US military.

Albano said soldiers’ helmets are supposed to be bulletproof.

“They are supposed to save our soldiers. But young Lt. Damian’s protective gear failed,” he said.

He said the investigation should determine whether Damian’s helmet was donated by the US military or part of the AFP’s equipment procurement.

During Friday’s floor debates in the House of Representatives on the 2014 budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP, military officials did not dispute Albano’s allegation that a rifle bullet penetrated Damian’s helmet.

Manila Rep. Zenaida Angping, who was defending the DND-AFP budget, said the helmet was made in the US but did not know whether it was donated by the US military or procured by the AFP.

She said it provided “Level III-A protection,” which means it could take rifle bullets like one fired from an M-16 Armalite.