Tag: defense capability

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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PingBills | Senate Bill 254, An Act Establishing the PAF Academy and Appropriating Funds Therefor

“The PAF Academy as conceptualized, is geared towards making available an adequate and dedicated corps of professional Air Force officers with the proper education, training and orientation to lead and manage the complex technologies inherent in the field of aviation.”

PingBills | Senate Bill 249, The National Defense Act of 2019

“Hence, this bill is envisioned to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense department.”

Bagong Diskarte vs Karahasan at Terorismo, Itinulak ni Ping

Bunga na rin ng patuloy na pagtaas ng banta ng terorismo at iba pang karahasan, kumilos na si Senador Panfilo Lacson upang mapalakas ang kakayahan ng pamahalaan na labanan ang mga ito.

Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng paghahain ni Lacson ng Senate Bill 1734, na naglalayong gawing mas epektibo ang mga sistemang ginagamit ng gobyerno para mapalakas ang defense system ng bansa.

“This bill is envisioned to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the AFP and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense establishment,” paliwanag ni Lacson sa panukala.

Related: Lacson seeks to upgrade measures to fight terrorism, national security threats

Continue reading “Bagong Diskarte vs Karahasan at Terorismo, Itinulak ni Ping”

Lacson Seeks to Upgrade Measures to Fight Terrorism, National Security Threats

A bill by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson seeks to upgrade the government’s capabilities against insurgency, terrorism and other threats to national security via several measures, including streamlining the procurement process for defense equipment and prohibiting the sale of strategic defense real properties.

In Senate Bill 1734, Lacson pushed for a stronger defense department that will implement a more credible national defense system to address inside and outside threats.

“This bill is envisioned to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense establishment,” he said.

Related: Bagong diskarte vs karahasan at terorismo, itinulak ni Ping

Continue reading “Lacson Seeks to Upgrade Measures to Fight Terrorism, National Security Threats”