By Priam Nepomuceno – PNA
MANILA — Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana wants more naval and aerial assets for the military next year so it can better perform its mandate and end internal security threats.
“My wish list is hopefully we will have more equipment, we need we need more ships, we need more helicopters,” Lorenzana said when asked about his priorities for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during a press briefing Thursday.
He said more equipment would boost the capability of government forces, especially in neutralizing Abu Sayyaf terrorists and communist insurgents.
“If we can reduce the problem areas to just law enforcement problem which could be handled by the police, we can devote military to some other activities like organizing more engineering brigades so that we can also help in the development of countryside,” he said.
Earlier, Malacañang assured the government is not taking the threat of terrorism lightly.
Among measures taken by Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte to boost his comprehensive solution against terrorism was the issuance of Memorandum Order No. 32, which reinforced the guidelines of the military and police in implementing measures to suppress and prevent such lawless violence.
He also issued Executive Order No. 70 directing the creation of a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, as well as the adoption of a national peace framework that will contain policies addressing the root causes of insurgencies.
