President Estrada has approved the appointment of Maj. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), as the new commanding general of the 68,000-strong Philippine Army (PA). This was disclosed yesterday by Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado in an interview after the turnover ceremonies for Lt. Gen. Angelo Reyes as the new AFP chief of staff held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Reyes, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1966, succeeded Gen. Joselin Nazareno who retired from the military service after serving as AFP chief for more than a year. - MB

- - - - - - - - - The United States government has offered to donate a patrol vessel for the use of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Malacaņang said yesterday. Mr. Estrada said the US government, through US Ambassador Thomas Hubbard, offered to turn over to the Philippines the US Coast Guard cutter Point Evans.

------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 21:22:46 +0100 From: Balita News Subject: 8-fn: Build-up in Spratlys being considered by RP MANILA, July 8 (AFP) - The Philippines is considering building up its occupied areas in the Spratly islands after Malaysia and China put up structures in the disputed South China Sea archipelago, President Joseph Estrada's chief aide said Thursday. Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said that key cabinet members discussed the Spratly situation following the discovery that Malaysia had set up a structure on Investigator Shoal which is also claimed by the Philippines. He recalled that the Philippines had already filed a diplomatic protest against Malaysia, adding that "we're considering whether this is a threat to our national security and whether we can pursue the course of diplomatic protest more effectively". Asked if the Philippines would also set up structures like China and Malaysia, as some officials have suggested, Zamora said "that's one of the issues that we're looking at". But he admitted that "there's a real problem on that approach" because it would be difficult to set up and maintain the structures. Zamora was more optimistic about reinforcing the existing Philippine installations in the seven islands it occupies in the Spratlys. "Whatever (we) have right now in the seven islands that we have occupied (we make sure it) will be adequately supplied and adequately maintained," Zamora said. Manila maintains a landing strip on Thitu island, known by its Filipino name Pag-asa, and six other islands are also garrisoned by Filipino troops. Zamora said the country "may want to take a look at building on Pag-asa and other islands rather than going into new atolls and new shoals and new islands." China earlier set up a structure on Mischief Reef, another outcrop in the Spraltys also claimed by the Philippines. Manila has charged that the Chinese structure is a military outpost but China says it is a fisherman's shelter. The Spratlys, a chain of islands in the South China Sea, are claimed wholly or partially by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. All but Brunei have troops based in the area, making the Spratlys a potential military flashpoint, analysts say.

------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 21:16:51 +0100 From: Balita News Subject: 8-Mil: Harvard-educated soldier is new Philippine armed forces chief MANILA, July 8 (AFP) - A Harvard-educated soldier on Thursday took over as chief of staff of the Philippine armed forces. General Angelo Reyes succeeded General Joselin Nazareno in ceremonies at the suburban military headquarters here. Reyes, 54, is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and holds a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He is also a veteran in the campaigns against Moslem and communist rebels. The chief bodyguard of then-president Corazon Aquino, Major General Voltaire Gazmin, was named the new army commander, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said. Gazmin was the chief of Aquino's presidential security group which played a crucial role in defending her from seven coup attempts.
President Estrada said yesterday that he will pump P10 billion ($257 million) into the Armed Forces of the Philippines to speed up the modernization of the nation's poorly equipped military. Three billion pesos has already been released and the balance will be provided next year, Estrada said on the 52nd anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The Philippines is faced with Muslim separatist and communist insurgencies and there are heightened tensions with other countries over conflicting claims to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The Philippine military is one of the weakest in the region with only a handful of 1960s-vintage F-5 fighter jets to handle air defense. Military officials had previously said it would take years before the first new equipment arrives. - Manila Bulletin

Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 17:38:05 +0100
From: Balita News
Subject: 1-pn: Vanishing causes of leftist rebels

By Eufemio M. Mediavillo

Legazpi City, June 30 (PNA) -- Sometime in late thirties, a socialist-communist oriented party was born. The cause was feudalism and imperialism. In late forties, another Communist Party was also born under the leadership of Huk Supremo Luis Taruc. Their cause besides non-payment of war benefits was also feudalism and imperialism. The memberships of the organization included former guerillas who were not able to receive war benefits after WW II. Then National Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. rose to instant fame when he crushed the movement through arms and heart -- arm with am omnipresent pursuing soldiers and a heart with farmlands for the surrenderees. This was continued till the "Guy" was elected President in 1953. But another leftist group also came out, this time in the leadership of Bernabe Buscayno or Commander Dante. The cause was also the same -- feudalism and imperialism. Buscayno's group disintegrated and in its place came the Kabataang Makabayan headed by Jose Maria Sison and hordes of intellectuals who were already arrested or killed during the martial law regime. It is this KM-turned National Democratic Front which had confronted at least three Administrations with the present Administration as the fourth. Under the Marcos regime, the rebel's cause started with feudalism and imperialism, then human rights violations, and communism having followed the Mao-Tse-tung line of armed struggle and commune system. When the late strongman Marcos came into power, the rebels party lost a cause after the declaration of land reform for rice and corn lands, which was expanded to all kinds of lands under the Aquino regime. The rebels now are left with no major causes to fight for. Through peace talks, they are left nothing but human rights violations and through the legal fronts, controversial issues like oil price increases and lately, visiting forces agreement. With insignificant causes to fight for, the rebels are now left with two options -- either to continue their armed struggle or surrender and avail of the government's amnesty program.

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) now conducting information campaigns, assured surrenderees of sufficient protection. They may be relocated in a place which may not be traced by the hard core leaders of the National Democratic Front or of the New People's Army (NPA).

Life in the open is certainly better than life always in hiding.
After all, ideas and principles can also be pursued through the Constitution. (PNA)

Jan.20, 1999: Philippine President Estrada approves the promotion of Philippine Marine Commandant Brigadier General Edgardo V. Espinosa to Major General. Ad interim promotion will be submitted to the Commission on Appointment (CA) for confirmation

Flag Officer in command of the Philippine Navy (PN), Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, has been appointed as AFP vice chief of staff. Santos will hold this position concurrent with that as FOIC Phil. Navy.

 

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 15:43:11 +0000

From: Balita News

Subject: nn: Biazon -- Government can still preempt Spratlys Mindanao woes

By Johnny C. Nunez

MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- Senator Rodolfo Biazon today said the

Philippine government, with the least efforts can still pre-empt the

country's national security concern in the Spratlys and Mindanao.

Biazon, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and

Security, made the optimistic assessment in today's briefing from top

officials of the Department of National Defense on the Mindanao and

Spratlys problems.

The Mindanao problem concerns the escalating conflict between the

military and the secessionist rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

while the Spratlys dilemma involves the aggressive Chinese intrusion in

the Kalayaan Islands, part of the Spratlys in the South China Sea.

The Senate briefing follows on the heels of the National Security

Council (NSC) meeting convened by President Estrada last week to address

the festering Mindanao and Spratly problems.

"The conclusion that came out of the meeting this morning is that

the national security situation is not yet at the level where it is a

full blown national security concern because we are not yet looking at

the deployment of national resources, specifically funds to the jeopardy

of other economic, socio-political developments," Biazon noted.

He said his committee believes that "with the least of efforts, the

government can still pre-empt this national security concern on both

sides -- the Spratlys and Mindanao."

Biazon, who was formerly Armed Forces of the Philippines (AF) Chief

of Staff, said the briefing touched on the readiness of the AFP to

address which ever should be addressed first in terms of the deployment

of resources, whether the Mindanao or the Spratlys.

"It was concluded that with the least of efforts, we can make our

AFP ready especially if we are addressing the (MILF) problem of Mindanao

with the CPP/NPA/NDF in addition."

It is important, he said, "to determine our national priority, our

AFP readiness, and contingency plans because all these require budgetary

considerations which Congress will have to approve." The role of

diplomacy, he added, is also paramount.

The Senator noted that there is a difference between the Spratlys

and Mindanao problem.

"Naval and air support equipment build-up and all-out diplomatic

campaign (bi-lateral, multi-lateral and elevation to international body)

may address the Spratly problem, whereas additional manpower, combat

vehicles, army battalions and auxiliaries and diplomatic ties with

Malaysia and the Middle East are possible resolutions to the Mindanao

situation," he explained.

Biazon also noted that the national economy is affected by both the

Spratlys and Mindanao situations, particularly regarding oil exploration

opportunities in the case of the Spratlys and the contribution of

Mindanao to the national economic growth.

The briefing, held at the Conference Room of the Philippine Navy

Headquarters, was attended by Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon

Magsaysay, Loren Leviste-Legarda, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, AFP

Chief of Staff Joselin Nazareno and the commanding generals of the major

AFP Services Commands. (PNA) DCT/JCN

PNA 01251824

------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 15:27:47 +0000

From: Balita News

Subject: nn: Biazon says three-step Spratlys diplomatic drive ....

Biazon says three-step Spratlys diplomatic drive must be done

simultaneously

MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- Senator Rodolfo Biazon has proposed that

the three-step sequential and calibrated diplomatic initiatives planned

for the Spratlys as agreed in last week's National Security Council

(NSC) meeting be undertaken simultaneously.

Biazon, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and

Security, said his committee was scheduled to discuss today further

information about the situation in the Spratlys, to take off from where

the NSC meeting left.

The NSC, the Philippines highest security policy-making body, was

convened by President Estrada last week to formulate the proper policy

approach to the address the country's conflict with China over the

Kalayaan Islands south of Palawan province where China has built

military-like installations.

The Kalayaan Island Group forms part of the Spratly archipelago in

the South China Sea which is partly or wholly claimed by Brunei, China,

Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The archipelago is

believed to sit on top of vast reservoir of oil and mineral deposits.

The Philippines claims a portion of the Spratlys that lies within

its 200-mile exclusive economic zone in accordance with the provisions

of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Panganiban or Mischief Reef where China built military

fortifications is just over a hundred miles off Palawan province and

over 88 miles from the nearest shoreline of China which, however, claims

the entire South China Sea as part of its territory.

As agreed upon during the recent NSC meeting, the three-step

approach includes bilateral negotiations as an initial approach,

multilateral talks involving other claimants and mediators as a second

option, and elevation of the issue to the United Nations for settlement

by its appropriate organ.

Biazon, however, said that if reports were true that China has

occupied Fiery Cross, another island adjoining Panganiban Reef, despite

the Manila-Beijing bilateral talks initiated in Kuala Lumpur in November

last year, the Philippines is left with no other option but to intensify

its diplomatic drive.

Biazon, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and

Security, said the Philippines must immediately commence its intensified

diplomatic initiatives on the issue and pursue all three steps

simultaneously.

The Senator noted that the so-called Chinese fishermen he saw in

the Kalayaan when he visited the islands in 1994 with then Senator, now

Defense Secretary Orly Mercado, "appear to be members of the People's

Liberation Army because they belong to almost the same ages and they

sport similar attire."

In batting for the internalization of the issue while pursuing

bilateral talks with China, Biazon said the move is justified because

there is "clear violation of the 1992 Manila Declaration" which

specifically provides for a peaceful settlement of the conflicting

claims over the Spratlys.

Aside from the Manila Declaration, Biazon said China has also

violated the 1995 Bilateral Code of Conduct between Manila and Beijing

which also provides for peaceful settlement of disputes and maintenance

of the status quo in the area.

"In the meantime, we should increase our naval and air patrol in

the area to signal that we are not abandoning the military option even

as we pursue our diplomatic initiatives," asserted Biazon, who was also

former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff. (PNA)

DCT/JCN/lam

PNA 01251721

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 14:09:09 +0000

From: Balita News

Subject: Mil: Bidding for AFP modernization to be held soon

MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Joselin

B. Nazareno today said bidding for acquisition of weapons for the

military's modernization program will resume as soon as possible.

The bidding for the purchase of fighter planes, missile gunboats

and other armaments was temporarily suspended by President Joseph E.

Estrada last year due to lack of funds.

In a press conference, Nazareno said he had convened the weapons

board to review what items are needed for the AFP's modernization.

He said the bidding will start as soon as possible so the

modernization program will finally take-off.

The military has listed 25 weapons and non-weapons equipment for

its modernization plan, including the purchase of two squadrons of

multi-role fighter aircraft and missile gunboats.

The fighter planes are badly needed to replace the aging F-5A/Bs of

the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Likewise, the Philippine Navy (PN) equally needs new warships,

including missile gunboats that will secure the country's territorial

waters.

The AFP's modernization has been put off many times in the past,

leaving the military in shambles in terms of external defense

capability.

But in 1997, Congress passed the AFP Modernization Law which was

subsequently signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos, allocating P331.5

billion for the program spread over 15 years. (PNA) DCT/RBC

PNA 01251704

------------------------------

 

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 12:27:43 +0000

From: Balita News

Subject: pn: Bureau of Customs requests for AFP personnel

ZAMBOANGA CITY,Jan.25 (PNA)--Customs Collector, lawyer Rolando

Yebes has requested the Southern Command to deploy teams of marine

soldiers to the office of the Bureau of Customs here for security and

patrol operation purposes.

Atty. Yebes said the deployment of marine soldiers at the Bureau

of Customs will also assist the offices' operation in terms of

monitoring seacraft and other vessels that may have contrabands on

board.

"I formally requested for marine soldiers from General Angelo

Reyes to augment the present number of personnel doing the sea patrol

operations", he stated.

The Customs office disclosed that it prioritizes the monitoring of

the supposed entry of smuggled goods in the city stating that

smugglers are taking chances to bring in the contrabands here at any

opportune time should concerned personnel display laxity in their

jobs.

Yebes said he instructed his men to seal off all possible entry

points of smuggled goods here to get assured of a strict

implementation of customs laws.

He expressed optimism that his office will meet the target

collection for this year as he assured that there will be no

loopholes as far as their function is concerned.

As this developed, the Customs collector denied reports that his

men are involved in the smuggling of sugar here in the city.

Yebes said since the confiscation of smuggled sugar by the navy

personnel late last year, there has not been any reported entry of

the contraband items in the city.

Besides, he has been checking on his men for any possible

involvement in anomalies regarding customs duties but gathered

negative results. (PNA) jv/wpt/CMC/GSS

PNA 01251124

------------------------------

End of BALITA-L Digest - 31 Jan 1999 - Special issue (#1999-124)

****************************************************************

 

 

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 11:38:06 +0000

From: Balita News

Subject: Mil: AFP lists 25 weapons system for modernization

By Ben Cal

MANILA, Jan. 24 (PNA) -- The Department of National Defense (DND)

has submitted to Malacanang a list of 25 weapons system and

non-weapons equipment the military badly needs for its long-delayed

modernization program to finally take-off this year.

As provided for under Republic Act 7898 approved by Congress in

1997, the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the

Philippines (AFP) will cost the government P331.5 billion spread over

15 years.

The modernization program was supposed to start last year but the

regional currency crisis prompted President Joseph E. Estrada to

suspend the project for one year.

The acquisition of armaments and equipment was recommended by the

AFP Weapons System Committee and subsequently endorsed by Defense

Secretary Orlando S. Mercado for approval by President Estrada.

Under the modernization program, the Philippine Navy (PN) headed

by Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos who is also the concurrent AFP

vice chief of staff, will acquire missile gunboats, offshore patrol

vessels, helicopters and amphibious vehicles for the Philippine

Marines, the AFP's fightingest unit.

The Navy has also programmed the revival of mine warfare

capability which was stopped after all its minesweepers were

decommissioned almost 20 years ago due to wear and tear.

Unfortunately, the AFP has no funds to replace dilapidated

minesweeper vessels.

The AFP also plans to acquire missile system for naval ships. The PN is the only Navy in the entire Southeast Asian countries without a missile capability.

For the Philippine Air Force (PAF) under Maj. Gen. Willie Florendo, its modernization will include the the acquisition of multi-role fighters, new radar system, long range reconnaissance planes and search and rescue medium lift aircraft.

The AFP will also buy ammunition manufacturing equipment to modernize its arsenal in Limay, Bataan, the purchase of modern health equipment, including dental devices.

The Philippine Army (PA) needs a mixture of 12 weapons system, including armored infantry fighting vehicles, 50,000 new assault rifles to replace the M-16 currently in use, and night vision goggles for the initial phase of its modernization program.

To be in cadence with modern army in neighboring countries, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has approved a plan to equip the Army with the global positioning system (GPS), the most modern communication network using the satellite.

This is also the first time that the AFP is serious in the purchase of night vision devices that will enable its troops to operate in pitch darkness with ease.

The infra-red device gives the soldier a distinct advantage during night combat operations.

At the same time, the Army needs 50,000 new assault rifles to replace its aging M-16 rifles which were acquired more than 30 years ago.

The M-16 or popularly known as the Armalite has become obsolete in the midst of new assault rifles produced lately by various world firearms' makers.

The Army has been testing various assault rifles as the

replacement of the Armalite. However, no decision has been made as to what particular assault rifles it will buy. It has a budget of P4 billion to acquire a new type of assault rifle.

Another vital weapon it is aiming is the purchase of new versions of armored infantry fighting vehicles. The last time it acquired similar armored vehicle was more than 20 years ago.

In the mid 70s, the Army acquired more than 200 armored infantry fighting vehicles from the United States when the Philippines was still getting weapons from America under the RP-US Military Assistance Program (MAP).

But since the RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) was dissolved in 1991, the US has stopped providing military equipment to the AFP, except those which were in the pipeline when the MBA was not renewed.

The Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle has been proven to be highly effective in counter-insurgency operations. Besides, it is armed with 30mm guns that can also be used as anti-aircraft.

The Army is also asking to procure 40mm grenade launchers and the 144mm howtizer. This will give Army batteries an added firepower.

To help the government lower its expenditure, the Army has opted to upgrade its V-150 armored vehicles, the M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs) and 105mm guns.

These US-made weapons which are currently in use by the Army for many years, are still much serviceable. Upgrading them will be less expensive than buying new ones.

Army weapons experts still maintain that these armaments have not become outdated despite scores of years in the service.

In fact, the Army has been upgrading 105mm howitzers for many years now.

Other equipment the Army is requesting are additional tactical radios, light vehicles such as jeeps and heavy trucks for transport of troops and logistics.

The AFP has embarked on a 15-year modest modernization program costing P330 billion.

For more than 20 years, the AFP has been lagging behind in its modernization program compared to other armed forces in the region.(PNA)

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