Chiz: Where did
P63-B AFP modernization fund go?
By Office of Senator Chiz
Escudero
May 6, 2015
PASAY CITY – Senator
Chiz Escudero wants the military to account for almost P63 billion it
has received since 2002 to modernize the Armed forces of the
Philippines (AFP), as the Senate began its probe into questionable
acquisitions of equipment and weapons system under the modernization
program.
“Money for the modernization
program has been in the AFP’s hands beginning 2002. We want to know
how it was spent, where it was spent. We want to know what their
procurement did to the force, how the military condition has changed,”
Escudero said.
Escudero, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Finance, filed Senate Resolution No. 1234 which
sought an investigation into the AFP’s questionable procurement to
modernize the military. Escudero’s initiative is one of the
resolutions tackled during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
According to Escudero, a
total of P63.38 billion has been released to the AFP from 2002 to
2013. Out of this figure, P41.832 billion came from the General
Appropriations; P12.958 billion from the remittances from the Bases
Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA); P1 billion from the
Malampaya fund; P6.59 billion from the Department of Energy (DoE);
P909.98 million from interest income; and P92.438 million from
government arsenal.
“Why is our military still
in a sorry state after P63 billion? With this money, we get to ask: is
the Filipino soldier better off than before? Are our soldiers better
equipped? Are they better trained? Is their inherent bravery boosted
by more confidence in fighting with the purchased arsenals? The
answers will show us where this modernization plan can and will take
us,” he said.
Escudero said the funds
appropriated for the modernization program may pale in comparison to
the military giants of our neighboring countries but wise, judicious
and efficient spending will go a long way in strengthening our
military force.
“We are no Hercules compared
to the formidable forces of China or Japan, so we better equip our
military with the right arsenal. There is a dream sequence and there
is reality. We want to see how they chose between these two in terms
of spending,” he added.
The senator asked Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin for a full accounting report on the use of
the Modernization Fund. The defense chief said he will provide the
committee with the said report before the next hearing.