US gov't cuts aid to RP military, police

The United States government plans to cut by two-thirds its military assistance to the Philippines, which is supposedly to benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

According to a report by the US State Department, Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for the AFP was down to $11 million from almost $30 million for the fiscal year 2008.  The International Military Exchange Program (IMET) program for the Philippines was also reduced to $1.5 million from $2.9 million.

The FMF is used to procure military equipment from the US while the IMET is used to pay for the training of officers in the US.

Meanwhile, the US's International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) program for the PNP to just $1.1 million from almost $2 million.