Zubiri bats for Air Force modernization after Bukidnon crash

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday pushed for the modernization of military air assets after seven people were killed when an Air Force helicopter crashed in Bukidnon last weekend.

"The accident reminded me of what the media used to call our military aircraft in the 80s and 90s – they used to call them 'flying coffins,' even to a certain extent calling them 'widowmakers,'" Zubiri said in a privilege speech, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.

He pointed out that in the past six months, three other accidents involving military aircraft resulted in nine deaths and injuries among servicemen.

Acknowledging the Air Force's report that the Huey helicopter in the Bukidnon crash was well-maintained, the senator said the use of this aircraft model should be "thoroughly reviewed."

"These Huey helicopters are older than me, some of them were built 1966-67. They are 50 to 55 years old. In hardware and aircraft machinery, the wear and tear of their airframe due to long hours of use is a big factor in why some of these aircraft actually crash," Zubiri said.

"What I am driving at, Mr. President, is how we need to modernize our military hardware and equipment, including our aircraft," he added, stressing that these would prevent senseless deaths.

The majority leader promised that the Senate was prepared to provide the military with the funding it needed in 2022 and the succeeding years to sustain its modernization efforts.

Senator Bato Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police, said the Bukidnon crash highlighted the need for constant funding of the armed forces.

“It bears reiterating that the constant maintenance of our aircraft, as well as the procurement of new and modern equipment, is essential to guarantee that the sacrifices and lives of our soldiers will not merely be put to waste because of engine trouble only,” he said.

Senator Sonny Angara, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the upper chamber initiated a P400-million increase in the budget of the Philippine Air Force under the 2021 General Appropriations Act, in response to the military branch's request. — DVM, GMA News