Golez hopeful on getting fast boats from US vs kumpits

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez disclosed yesterday that he expects an acceleration of a pending request to the United States for the transfer to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of second-hand 35-knotter Cyclone Patrol boats under the US Excess Defense Articles.

Golez said the 35-Cyclone Patrol boats are most suited and "very ideal for use" by the AFP in the Basilan-Sulu area to beef-up the military crackdown against the Abu Sayyaf bandits and run after their fast "kumpits" which run on Volvo engines compared to slow-moving Philippine Navy patrol ships.

Golez said this acceleration would hopefully come out from his meeting last Tuesday with Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander-in-chief of the Pacific (CINCPAC) fleet, who went to Subic last Tuesday to conduct a physical inspection of the former American naval base in Olongapo City, Zambales.

As CINCPAC Fleet commander, Golez cited, Fargo commands the US military assets in the area which include two aircraft carriers, frigates and destroyer ships.

Golez dismissed speculations that these US Excess Defense Articles may be dangled to the Philippines in exchange for the possible use of its former American military facilities in Subic and Clark Field in Pampanga.

Golez said he has been working for the transfer of these Cyclone ships with Admiral Fargo, who happens to be his junior classmate at the Annapolis in the US Naval Academy, long before the Sept. 11 suicide plane attacks in the US. — Marichu Villanueva