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AFP plan to buy missiles not scrapped, just postponed – Iriberri


Plans to buy shore-based missile systems for the military have not been scrapped, just postponed the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, made clear Monday.
 
Iriberri said in a report on “Balitanghali” that procurement of shore-based missile systems has been pushed back in favor of buying weapons and protective gear for the Philippine Army.
 
 
The missiles will instead be done in the second phase of the AFP Transformation Road Map.
 
“Ang lumabas kasi is it was scrapped. It was not scrapped. We just requested na it be moved sa second horizon... We are now on the first horizon, which is from 2013 to 2017. The second horizon is 2018 to 2022, and the third horizon is 2023 to 2028. This is in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines' transformation road map,” Iriberri clarified.
 
He also contested criticism that priority has been given to internal security instead of external defense.
 
Iriberri said that the equipment the Army will buy can be used well for any given mission.
 
The new AFP chief revealed that the supplier for the missiles is the same complainant in graft raps against him over deals that were scrapped between 2010 and 2012.
 
Iriberri has been accused of blocking the procurement of shore-based missiles because he would not be getting a commission from the deal.
 
“Pagdating sa accusation, 'yung mga sinasabi nilang komisyon komisyon, kasinungalingan 'yan. Malaking kasinungalingan. I can face anyone (to prove it).”
 
The new Armed Forces chief said the military is also preparing to ensure clean and peaceful elections in 2016. — Bianca Rose Dabu/JDS, GMA News
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