‘Red tape delaying AFP modernization’

After retiring as Army commander yesterday, Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos criticized the government for the slow implementation of the Armed Forces modernization program.

Speaking at the turnover of command to new Army chief Maj. Gen. Dionisio Santiago at Fort Bonifacio in Makati, Delos Santos said the military has yet to acquire "advance weaponry" to increase its fighting capability since the passage of the AFP Modernization Act in 1995.

"Still another battle we face is the unfilled saga of the modernization program," he said. "More than five years after the enactment of the AFP modernization program, (there’s) not one new troop carrier purchase."

Delos Santos said bureaucratic red tape was to blame for the hampered Armed Forces modernization program, which has not been a priority in the government’s budget appropriation.

"Bureaucratic red tape, budget priorities, and interests alien to our mission are just one of the stumbling blocks we face," he said.

Delos Santos, who had commanded United Nations peacekeeping forces in East Timor, said the Armed Forces "lags behind" the armies, navies and air forces of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

"The reality is that we have been left behind by our neighbors in the ASEAN region," he said.

During the Ramos administration, Congress passed the AFP Modernization Act and P330 billion was appropriated for the modernization program to be completed within 15 years from 1995.

However, about P19 billion has been set aside for the modernization of the Armed Forces –P7.5 billion of which came from the sale of huge portion of Fort Bonifacio.

Last year, President Arroyo allocated P5.4 billion for the Armed Forces modernization program, while ousted President Joseph Estrada had promised P6 billion.

Included in the military’s shopping list are: advanced naval and air patrol crafts and equipment, as well as weapons for anti-insurgency and internal security.

After returning from East Timor, Delos Santos was named commander of the Armed Forces Visayas Command and later Armed Forces deputy chief of staff.

A member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1969, Delos Santos was named one of the UP College of Business Administration’s distinguished alumni last year.

Delos Santos has also received a number of other prominent military awards for his outstanding accomplishments at various levels throughout his military career.

Before being named Army chief, Santiago was head of the Armed Forces Central Command.

Santiago was chairman of the GRP-MNLF Provincial Ceasefire Committee Basilan and board member of other AFP groups and institutions.

Santiago, who belongs to PMA Class 1970, also served as director of the National Securities Studies at the AFP Joint Command and Staff College.

Santiago has two Master’s Degrees in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City and Seattle University in the United States.

Attending the change-of-command ceremonies were Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and other military top brass. — Paolo Romero