Press Release
July 16, 2007

Hasten implementation of AFP modernization laws, Villar urges

Senate President Manny Villar today urged the military top brass to hasten the implementation of laws enacted by Congress to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a bid to avoid the repeat of the July 11 ambush in Basilan.

"The unnecessary deaths of our soldiers in the field will be avoided if we will be able to provide our armed forces more modern equipment that will improve our soldiers' detection and defensive capabilities," Villar said.

Villar noted that the AFP has yet to fully implement Republic (RA) 9184, or the Act providing for the modernization, standardization and regulation of the procurement activities of the government, that Congress enacted into law as early as December 2002.

Villar also said that investigation into Basilan's treacherous ambush of 14 military men revealed that mortar malfunction kept the soldiers from carrying out offensive strikes against alleged Moro Islamic Federation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf forces.

"The modernization of the procurement process under the Government Electronic Procurement System will ensure acquisition of quality and updated weaponry and artillery," Villar said.

Villar urged the AFP to speed up internal processes in order to fully implement RA 9184 and RA 7898 or the Armed Forces Modernization Act.

The Senate president also expressed optimism that the program will be accelerated with the allocation of P5 billion for the AFP modernization under the 2007 budget.

Last July 11, 14 Marines were killed in a 10-hour gun- battle in Basilan. The Marines were returning to base after conducting an unsuccessful search and rescue operation on kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi when attacked by alleged MILF and Abu Sayyaf operatives.

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