AFP to skip flyby of air assets at anniversary

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will forgo the traditional flyby of its air assets at its anniversary on Wednesday to save expenses and to avoid disrupting air traffic.

“Kasi 3’o clock eh. Kung Clark ang event tulad ng nangyari the other anniversary madali lang yun kasi hindi tayo manggugulo ng airspace. Dito sa Manila na busy ang airspace kailangang magpaalam tayo,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said on Monday.

(The reason is it will happen at 3’o clock. If the event is going to be held at Clark Air Base like those previous anniversaries it can be done because we will not disrupt the airspace. But in Manila where the airspace is busy we have to ask clearance.)

The activities of a traditional parade and review usually include a high-speed pass and a flyby of existing aircraft. Last year, the AFP anniversary was held at Clark, Pampanga, which featured at least 40 air military assets of the Philippine Air Force. It was the last AFP anniversary of President Benigno Aquino as commander-in-chief and it was meant to showcase the acquisitions through the AFP Modernization Program.

The FA-50 fighter planes, which were once criticized by President Rodrigo Duterte as a “waste of money,” will not also be flown “because the event is in the afternoon.”

Padilla said Duterte’s criticism of the fighter planes has nothing to do with the cancellation of the speed pass.

“Wala. Saka alam naman ni President na hindi galing sa US yan. Alam nya rin na yung aircraft is multi-purpose,” he said.

(No. The President also knew those multi-purpose planes did not come from the US.)

Duterte is expected to lead the anniversary rites on Wednesday.

Ground assets, especially those used for disaster response, will still be showcased.

“It’s simple, least [costly] but meaningful and relevant commemoration,” Padilla said. /ac

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