Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net
The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to ask for additional funding to boost its intelligence gathering operations in the upcoming annual budget hearing slated at the House of Representatives.
“We would like to acquire some of the equipment na pwede nating magamit dun sa intelligence gathering natin (that we can utilize for our intelligence gathering), which we lack,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday.
According to the defense secretary, up for acquisitions include drones that are capable of flying day time and night time with facial recognition ability.
Lorenzana could not immediately say how much money they would ask from the lawmakers.
“We are trying to get the exact figure,” he said.
Lorenzana said that the latest acquisition of the military to level up its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ability was the Cessna 208Bs from the US, which would be a big help. However, he said the military needs more funds to develop human intelligence assets on the ground. JPV
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