Makabagong kagamitang pandigma tulad ng fighter jets, combat ships at naval fleet ang ipinakita ngayong araw sa pagbubukas ng Asian Defence, Security and Crisis Management Exhibition and Conference kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa Pasay city. (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines — Mga makabagong kagamitang pandigma , magmula sa mga armas, fighter jets, naval fleet at combat ships, mga bagong teknolohiya mula sa 130 international companies na nanggaling sa labing-anim na bansa ang ipinakita kanina kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa pagbubukas ng Asian Defence, Security and Crisis Management Exhibition and Conference sa Pasay city.
Ito ay dinaluhan rin ng iba’t ibang security at defence agency ng iba’t ibang bansa kabilang ang ASEAN Member States.
Ayon kay Pangulong Aquino, ibig niyang masuri ang mga makabagong kagamitan na ito lalo na at may ginagawang modernisasyon sa hanay ng Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“If I may share, for the longest time, the state of our military’s equipment had been neglected. It reached a point where even lawless elements possessed superior equipment. This is precisely why, from day one, we have done everything in our power to give the AFP the support they need to perform their duties to the fullest of their capabilities—and to make sure that the risks they take in the battlefield are reduced to a bare minimum.”
Sinabi ng pangulo, sa nakalipas na apat na taon, mahigit apat na bilyong piso na ang nailaan ng pamahalaan para sa AFP modernization.
Nilinaw naman ni Pangulong Aquino na walang layon ang Pilipinas na pataasin ang tensyon sa West Philippine Sea dahil sa pagpapalakas ng defense capabilities ng bansa.
Ito ay kaugnay na rin sa disputed territory issue sa rehiyon at ginagawang pagangkin ng China sa halos malaking bahagi ng West Philippine Sea.
“Lest anyone accuse us of shifting to a more militaristic position, I must emphasize. Our efforts seek to modernize the capabilities of our security sector is to address the needs in human disaster response arenas and for our own internal defense. None of these actions are meant to increase tensions in the region; rather, they are meant to address our domestic problems and issues.”
Kauna-unahang ginanap sa Pilipinas ang ADAS dahil na rin sa interes ng pamahalaan na makakuha ng mga makabagong kagamitan at teknolohiya mula sa ibat-ibang bansa. (Nel Maribojoc, UNTV News)