The country’s defense

We do not need your F-16 fighter planes.

This was the statement of President Duterte to America, when they offered to sell F-16 Fighting Falcons and other weapons to the country. The warplanes are too expensive to maintain, he added, besides being useless against the country's enemies. The offer from three American officials to Duterte took place after Defense Secretary Lorenzana was sent to Russia to see what weapons could be purchased from the superpower, including submarines. A US Defense Department official stated, “I think they should think very carefully about that.” “If they would have (to) proceed with procurement of major Russian equipment, I don’t think that’s a helpful thing to do in the alliance.” Naturally, Duterte did not appreciate the defense official’s statement.

No country has the right to dictate what the Philippines wants to do. But there is also no need to push away longtime friends and allies. Perhaps it should also be mentioned that if the administration that follows Duterte’s term is not too friendly with Russia or China, what would happen to the weapons bought, especially a submarine? I doubt if the country can buy a brand-new submarine, so it is certain that an older model will break down like anything else and need maintenance.

According to Duterte, the country needs attack helicopters to fight the NPA, Abu Sayyaf, and ISIS. The country has no enemies in the region, so there is no need to buy top-of-the-line fighter aircraft. If so, what is the submarine for? Will the submarine be used to suppress the small boats of the NPA, Abu Sayyaf, and ISIS? I understand the use of attack helicopters against rebels and militants, but how does a submarine fit into all this?

I may be wrong, but aren’t fast surface vessels more effective to combat these small boats? I know the Aquino administration purchased through a soft loan from Japan ten multi-role vessels for the Coast Guard. A number have already been delivered. But the Philippine Navy still needs more ships to strengthen the country's defense, even in the absence of an enemy in the region.

The Philippine Navy has yet to take delivery of the two frigates from South Korea. With the country having such a complex coastline, more vessels for both the Coast Guard and the Navy are warranted. The cost of a single submarine would be equal to several surface vessels. Isn’t that more cost effective? Or is the administration just too excited to deal with Russia, at is has with China? Are officials of the Philippine Navy hungry for the “respect” that apparently comes with having a submarine? Is having a submarine enough deterrent to the Chinese surface vessels that sail throughout the South China Sea, even near islands the country already controls? I doubt it, as China has submarines of their own.

Perhaps Lorenzana should study all possibilities and scenarios, before eventually making suggestions to the president.