Press Release
February 25, 2010

SENATOR BONG REVILLA CALLS FOR PAF MODERNIZATION

SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. today said there is a need to modernize the Philippine Air Force as he expressed condolences to the family of the pilots, who perished on a military plane crash in Tarlac on Wednesday.

"It appears that our Air Force has more casualties from aircraft accidents than in the actual combat operations. I just hope that this will not lower the morale of our soldiers," said Bong Revilla, as he also mentioned the military plane crash in Cotabato City wherein nine people, including a one-star general, died.

Based on the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the purchase of equipment and other combat materials for internal security is currently being prioritized before the shifting to the external defense which includes new air assets.

But Bong Revilla said that the purchase of new aircrafts to replace the old planes and helicopters of the Air Force fleet should also be given priority at this point since they are also important in internal security operations.

He added that new air assets will not only boost the morale of the Air Force but also of other soldiers who would feel safe and secure on the presence of planes and choppers serving as their air support on ground operations.

"The military's air assets being used in internal security operations do not need to be that modern, what is needed are new ones that would ensure the safety of our military pilots," Bong Revilla added.

He added that new air assets would also serve as a solution to the problem of military pilots being pirated by commercial airline companies.

"Let us do away with that disheartening joke that the Philippine Air Force should be temporarily renamed Philippine Air because it has no actual force. Let us bring back that glory when the Philippines is still a military super power in Southeast Asia ," he concluded.

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