Gov’t increasing AFP capability to end terror threats —Lorenzana

The Philippines will not move forward unless terrorism and the communist insurgency are “eradicated,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday.

Lorenzana said the Department of National Defense (DND) was constantly improving the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by procuring more defense equipment.

“The first thing that we should be doing, which we have been doing all along, is to try to eradicate terrorism and the communist insurgency al over the Philippines,” Lorenzana said.

“And then as we go along, we try to improve the capacity, capability of our Armed Forces by procuring defense equipment,” he added.

The defense chief also said the Defense department is also pushing for legislative measures that will secure communities.

The DND has been supporting the passage of a new law to amend the Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007, as it believes it is necessary to pass such amendments to enhance our security forces’ efforts to enforce our laws and protect our people.

The DND also reiterated its call for the Filipino people to closely work with the authorities and remain united in the prevention and countering of violent extremism in the country.

"Sustaining our gains entails a national security posture capable of defending the country from external and internal security threats,” President Rodrigo Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), 

“Defense Secretary Lorenzana, together with the gallant men and women of the armed forces, is at the forefront of this fight,” he added. —NB, GMA News