Aquino ‘wants everything’ for military under his term

MANILA, Philippines – “I want everything.”

This is what President Benigno Aquino III said when asked what more military equipment he would like to purchase for the armed forces during his term.

The statement came after the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the biggest and most recently acquired vessel in the Philippine Navy’s fleet, was formally welcomed on Tuesday.

In a short interview after the ceremony, Aquino said that he has a long wish-list of equipment that he would like to procure for the military during his term.

Aquino said that for the Philippine Air Force, they currently needed air defense radars, long-range patrol aircraft and closed air support aircraft. Likewise, there are plans to purchase lead-in jet planes that will be used for the training of our future jet fighter pilots. Likewise, more assault rifles and armored personnel carriers and force protection equipment like helmets, bullet proof vests, night-fighting equipment and radios are needed by the Philippine Army.

“There’s a whole list of modernization items for the AFP and also the PNP and the Coast Guard,” Aquino said.

For the Philippine Navy, the defense department is eyeing the purchase of amphibious vessels, off-shore patrol vessels, naval helicopters there are at least three of them, coast watch stations, Aquino said. Meanwhile, he also ordered that the Navy to restudy its plans to buy a submarine.

“So yung [the] submarines are being studied by our Navy – whether or not practical, whether or not it meets our needs,” Aquino said.

Aquino said that he didn’t want to rush into buying cheap submarines then end up having to spend so much money refurbishing and refitting the vessels to suit Philippine sea conditions.

He added that an Asian neighboring country which he did not identify had bought several submarines worth only $12 million but the total cost of refurbishment nearly totaled the amount of a brand new submarine.

In a separate interview, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Rear Admiral Alexander Pama admitted that they were reviewing their plans to purchase a submarine.

“We don’t want to make a mistake,” Pama said.

Nevertheless, Pama said that the Navy was eyeing to acquire two more Hamilton cutters just like BRP Gregorio del Pilar from the US.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar was acquired through the US Excess Defense Act.

The vessel was free however, the Philippines spent some P450 million on refurbishments and for the fuel used by the vessel to travel from Hawaii to the Philippines.