AFP receives P2.7M worth of IT, multimedia equipment from Australia

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it received around 2.7 million worth of information technology (IT) and multimedia equipment from the Australian government on Wednesday.

AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana received the donation in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo.

“With these newly donated IT and multimedia equipment, the AFP will be able to amplify its capability of preventing and countering violent extremism, here in our country,” he said in a statement.

Among the new equipment donated were high-tech computers, tablets, storage devices, smart TVs, cameras, and audio recording components, according to the AFP.

Australian Embassy – Manila Defense Attaché Colonel Paul Joseph Barta said these equipment will help the AFP in addressing the threat of terrorism in the country.

“The equipment will assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ office for the prevention and countering of violent extremism research to achieve its mission – by documenting and understanding the drivers of radicalization, effective strategies for prevention of violent extremism can be found,” Barta said.

Sobejana thanked the Australian government and Australian Defence Force for the donation.

“It is through these initiatives that our members become more empowered to fulfill their mandate to secure the state and protect the Filipino people,” he said.

The AFP said it continues to improve its counter-terrorism capabilities within the cyberspace. With the donations, the AFP said the access and exchange of information among military allies will be more secured.

“We do acknowledge that much is still needed. After the gruelling Marawi Siege in 2017 against the ISIS-Maute Group, and the lessons that we have to learn the hard way, the AFP is more than determined to prevent any incidents of the same nature from ever happening in the future,” Sobejana said.

According to the AFP, the donation is under the Australia-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News