Duterte reaffirms vow to modernize Air Force

President Rodrigo Duterte assures the Philippine Air Force of his commitment to modernize its assets during the 70th anniversary of the service branch on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga — President Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed on Tuesday his commitment to the modernization of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which he said would be vital in patrolling over the disputed South China Sea.

“I assure you that we will build on our past gains to further strengthen the Philippine Air Force,” Duterte said his speech at the Haribon Hangar here during the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force.

Also present at the event were Vice President Leni Robredo, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Armed Force chief chaplain Brig. Gen. Tirso Dolina, and South Korean Ambassador to the Philipines Kim Jae-shin.

“We will continue the ongoing modernization program by procuring additional attack and combat utility vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to complement our already existing air assets,” he added.

“The Philippine Air Force plays a crucial role in preserving our national integrity in the face of challenges from within and from outside our borders,” he went on. “PAF’s intensified aerial reconnaissance missions and the maritime patrols [over] the West Philippine Sea and the Benham Rise are testament to our dedication to protect our waters from external threats.”

Marawi crisis

Duterte said Air Force assets proved to be crucial in the ongoing Marawi siege.

“The Philippine Air Force is also playing a crucial role in our efforts to retake Marawi City from the clutches of the ISIS-inspired terrorists,” he said.

“We have also tapped PAF to augment our internal security operations by providing air support to our ground forces and assisting our law enforcement agencies in the surveillance and intelligence gathering operations,” he added.

He said the PAF “has joined almost two thousand counter-insurgency and law enforcement operations, five of which contributing to our ongoing war against illegal drugs and loose firearms.” /atm