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PNoy vows to beef up air force fleet with long-range planes


(Updated 2:39 p.m.) CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga – New aircraft, including attack helicopters and long-range patrol planes, will be procured in the next five years to beef up the country's air force, President Benigno Aquino III vowed Monday.

During the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) 66th anniversary celebration here, Aquino pledged to allocate a portion of the Armed Forces' P75-billion modernization fund for the next five years to buy lead-in fighters, long-range patrol aircraft, close air support aircraft, attack helicopters, air defense radars, flight simulators and other modern equipment.

"Nananalig ako: sa pagsasanib ng mga pagkilos ng pamahalaan upang gawing mas moderno ang inyong mga pangangailangan, at ang panibagong dangal at kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa ating kasundaluhan, talagang magiging abot-langit ang serbisyong hatid ng Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas," said Aquino, the military's commander-in-chief.

Aquino said the procurement aims to strengthen the country's defense and prevent the loss of lives among soldiers, adding last week's plane crash in Palawan involving a military 0V-10 Bronco aircraft should never happen again.

"Ang ganitong mga pangyayari nga mismo ang iniiwasan natin simula’t sapul pa. Kaya naman, nakatutok tayo sa modernisasyon ng ating pambansang tanggulan," the President said.

Aquino added that the PAF should be modernized to be able to make Filipinos feel more secure against those who try to "shock" and "pressure" them.

Aquino made these statements amid an ongoing territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea.

Over the weekend, China's state media warned of a "counterstrike" in the South China Sea after news reports on the Philippines' plan to give the United States and Japan access to a Navy base it will build in Zambales.

On Sunday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario "expressed serious concern" over the "increasing militarization" of the South China Sea.

Taken for granted

In his speech, Aquino blamed "past leaders" for supposedly taking the PAF fleet for granted.

"Bakit nitong mga nakalipas na dekada, tila nabalian ng pakpak ang ating Hukbong Himpapawid, at umaasa na lamang tayo sa mga luma, at kakarag-karag na eroplano’t gamit?" he said.

"Nakalulungkot man pong isipin, umabot tayo sa sitwasyong ganito dahil habang lasing sa kapangyarihan ang mga dating pinuno, lantaran ding nababale-wala ang kapakanan at interes ng mga kawal na Pilipino," the President added.

Aquino also lauded the PAF for being able to maximize its limited resources.

"Mulat po tayo sa mga kasalukuyang limitasyon ng ating sandatahan, kaya naman nagpapasalamat tayo sa inisyatiba ng Air Force na kumpunihin upang muling mapakinabangan ang ilang eroplano’t sasakyan," he said.

Aquino, however, said that he cannot allow the PAF fleet to just rely on old aircraft and equipment.

"Hindi maaring habambuhay na umasa na lamang tayo sa maya’t mayang rehabilitasyon at pagkukumpuni ng kagamitan. Sa tuwing lumilipad ang Air Force, nakataya sa kalidad ng ating mga eroplano, hindi lamang ang tagumpay ng kanilang misyon, kundi ang mismong buhay ng ating mga sundalo," he said.

Guard our resources

PAF chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, meanwhile, pledged to utilize the new aircraft and equipment that the Aquino administration plans to procure to further guard the country's resources.

"Kami po ay hindi matitinag sa aming patuloy na pagmamatyag para masiguro na ang mga likas na yaman at pag-aari ng ating bansa ay mapangalagaan at maipagtanggol kung kinakailangan," Dela Cruz said in a separate speech.

"Pagdating ng ating mga bagong kagamitan ay lalo naming matagumpay na magagawa ang pagmamatyag na ito," he added.

He also vowed to improve the PAF's aircraft recovery initiative programs to be able to help in disaster response in times of natural calamities.

During the event, the PAF also showcased its current aircraft like the SF-260 Marchetti and T41-D trainer planes.

At the start of the event, guests were also treated to a traditional aerobatic demonstration to highlight the PAF fleet's flight capabilities.

Also present during the PAF anniversary celebration were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima. – KBK/HS, GMA News
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