Tag: AFP modernization

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Lacson Welcomes Veto of Non-Essential Allocations, Prohibition on Political Involvement in ‘Ayuda’ in 2026 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson welcomed on Monday President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s veto of non-essential funds under the unprogrammed appropriations – as well as the prohibition of political involvement in the distribution of “ayuda” – in the newly signed Republic Act 12314, the national budget for 2026.

Lacson noted two of the items that survived the veto – the government support to foreign-assisted projects and the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program – are needed for economic development and national security.

During deliberations on the then budget bill last December, Lacson pushed for the trimming of the unprogrammed allocations to include only funds for legitimate items such as foreign-assisted projects and the AFP modernization program.

“P150.905 billion is the exact amount that survived the veto, of which, P97.3 billion for Government Support to Foreign-Assisted Projects, P3.6 billion for Program on Risk Management, and P50 billion for the revised AFP Modernization Program. All other seven items under UA were vetoed,” Lacson said.

“We need the government support to Foreign Assisted Projects and the Revised AFP Modernization Program as our commitments to our economic development and national security,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ikinatuwa ang Pag-Veto sa Di-Mahahalagang Alokasyon at Pagbawal sa Pag-Epal sa ‘Ayuda’ sa 2026 Budget

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Sponsoring the 2021 Budget of the Department of National Defense

Sen. Lacson sponsored the budget of the Department of National Defense for 2021, amounting to P215.705 billion. This includes P1.3B for the Government Arsenal, P139.7M for the National Defense College of the Philippines, P1.25B for the Office of Civil Defense, P842.4M for the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, and P2.177B for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center; and P209B for the AFP.

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On a Post-VFA Philippines

The Filipino people are resilient and our soldiers are no different. We will survive, no doubt. We know how to improvise and we can adapt to crises the way we did many times before.

But in the meantime, we remain exposed to terrorist threats, both domestic and foreign, not to mention the continuing security threat in the West Philippine Sea posed by China, and even the need for timely humanitarian response and assistance that the US is capable of deploying during disasters, natural or man-made. Also affected by the VFA’s abrogation is the maintenance and repairs of military hardware, mostly air assets provided by the US under the AFP modernization program.

Exploring other options like inking similar defense treaties with other nations as posited by the AFP Chief of Staff is fine but the reality is, it doesn’t happen overnight. It will take a series of back-and-forth negotiations in pursuit of the concerned parties’ self and national interests before going through lengthy deliberations for ratification by the Senate.

While admittedly, the VFA is not perfect for the Philippines as far as equitability is concerned, the timing and reasons for its abrogation are way off the mark.

The thing is, it is not the smartest move of the President to expose ourselves naked first before looking for other options for cover.

*****

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Ping: Utang ng sundalo sa sambayanan ang tinatamasa nila

Sa sambayanan may utang ang mga sundalo sa mga biyayang tinatamasa ng mga ito kapalit ng pagiging tapat sa Saligang Batas at tamang pagtupad sa mga tungkulin na nakaatang sa kanilang balikat.

Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Senador at dating Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Panfilo Lacson bilang pagpapaalala na produkto ng sama-samang pagtatrabaho ng mga mambabatas ang mga batas na nalilikha para sa kapakinabangan ng iba’t-ibang sangay ng pamahalaan kabilang na ang sandatahang lakas.

Ayon pa kay Lacson, maliwanag na naman umano na ang mga senador ay halal ng taumbayan kaya lumalabas na ikinakatawan lamang ng mga ito ang sambayanan sa sa paghinang ng mga batas.

Related: Lacson: AFP owes allegiance to Filipino people
Continue reading “Ping: Utang ng sundalo sa sambayanan ang tinatamasa nila”

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Lacson: AFP owes allegiance to Filipino people

Amid the laws passed for the benefit of its members, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should maintain its allegiance to the Philippine Constitution and to the Filipino people.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this as he said the measures providing for the AFP’s modernization are the work of the Senate as an institution representing the people.

“More than who authored the bills, the members of the AFP can best show their appreciation by serving the country and the Filipino people,” said Lacson, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971.

Related: Ping: Utang ng sundalo sa sambayanan ang tinatamasa nila
Continue reading “Lacson: AFP owes allegiance to Filipino people”