Defer P50-billion purchase of ships, missiles, VACC urges

MANILA, Philippines — The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has slammed the planned purchase of patrol boats and cruise missiles for the Philippine Navy at a time when Filipinos are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent typhoon.

Arsenio Evangelista, president of VACC, said the procurement of offshore patrol vessels worth P30 billion and BrahMos cruise missiles for P18.9 billion for the navy during these times of crises would be very difficult to justify.

He urged the government to put off the procurement until a more appropriate time comes around.

“In this time of our national health emergency, national security must temporarily take a backseat to economic security. In order to defeat the terrible socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, what we need are vaccines and not ships and missiles,” Evangelista said.