AFP eyes simple Christmas celebration amid calamities, flood control mess

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday said the nation’s military will have a simple Christmas celebration this December in light of the damage caused by calamities and the controversy over anomalous flood control projects.

During a send-off ceremony  of AFP delegates to the 33rd Southeast Asia Games, Brawner said that the AFP will hold a short program where awards will be given to deserving personnel, followed by a traditional boodle fight in a gesture of unity for its 90th anniversary and Christmas.

“’Yung ating bansa ay dumaan sa maraming kalamidad. At marami pa po sa ating mga kababayan ang  naghihirap dahil dito sa mga kalamidad na ito, yung mga earthquake, yung mga bagyo, yung mga flooding,” he said.

(Our country has gone through many calamities. And many of our fellow citizens are still suffering because of these disasters, the earthquakes, typhoons, flooding.)

In October, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Manay, Davao Oriental.

Meanwhile, Typhoons Uwan and Tino and Uwan struck the country in November.

Brawner said that while some areas in the country still experience flooding, two more tropical cyclones could form inside the Philippine Area of responsibility before the year ends.

Aside from these, Brawner said the decision to have a simple celebration for the AFP is due to an ongoing “corruption scandal” involving anomalous flood control projects.

“[D]ahil nga po nakita natin na milyon-milyon, bilyon pa ang ninakaw sa ating gobyerno ay hindi na po tayo magse-celebrate ng bongga dahil gusto nating magtipid,” he said.

(Since we have seen that millions, billions were stolen from our government, we will no longer have a large celebration because we want to be frugal.)

“So ang mangyayari po is that  the offices and the units will have their own Christmas parties. Wala na po tayong yung iisang Christmas party para sa buong command but you will have your office or unit Christmas parties,” he added.

(So what will happen is that the offices and units will have their own Christmas parties. We will no longer have one Christmas party for the entire command, but you will have your office or unit Christmas parties.)

Meanwhile, Brawner also commended AFP personnel for remaining disciplined, professional, and united and refusing to join rallies calling to bring down the government. —Joahna Lei Casilao/RF, GMA Integrated News