Lawmaker wants soldiers on commercial flights

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel urged the Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday to tap commercial airlines to fly soldiers pending the acquisition of five new C-130 cargo planes.

Pimentel, chair of the House strategic intelligence committee, said Congress could provide DND the extra funding to pay for the commercial flights.

“Assuming Camp Aguinaldo is in a rush to deploy soldiers somewhere, and no military aircraft is readily available, we would recommend the use of either commercial or chartered flights,” Pimentel said.

He said the military’s use of commercial flights would also help the local airline industry recover financially from the pandemic.

—NESTOR CORRALES