Kaban ni D_BystandeR: DALAYGON ANG PANGUKAY NI MAGBABALAOD ALBANO SA PANAPI SA ARMADONG KUSOG

I find the strongly worded wake-up call of Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III for the House of Representatives to invoke its oversight power and review the wisdom of AFP modernization plan a daring move in the midst of alarming silence obtaining in Congress where nobody dared to question the propriety of the seemingly rampant ransacking of the government treasury in the name of AFP modernization. We should be thankful to Congressman Albano for having the courage to dare to speak his mind aloud not only to guide our national planners in the most acceptable and reasonable way to spend our money wisely but to put them back to their senses that what they are doing is not in consonance with the capabilities of our economy and that we erred much in our judgment to use our money as if we consider ourselves in a race with how mainland China is arming themselves to the hilt!

Footnote: The Philippines is eyeing to buy 12 fighter jets from South Korea worth $464M (about P19B). It has signed contracts worth $527M to buy 12 fighter jets from South Korea and 4 combat utility helicopters from Canada to boost the capability of its force. Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista signed a contract with Korean Aerospace Industries for 12 FA-50 fighters worth P18.9B ($420.4M) and another contract with Canadian Commercial Corp. for 4 Bell 412 combat utility helicopters worth P4.8B ($106.8M). Deliveries will start next year. The Bell 412 helicopters will be acquired through the state-owned Canadian Commercial Corp. The modernization plan has already completed contract to obtain 12 jet fighters from South Korea valued at P19B, 6 Helicopters from Canada, and 2 anti-submarine Helicopters valued at P5.4B.