War is stupid…and it costs a lot. Aside from the lives lost, the three-week Zamboanga siege led by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will also cost taxpayers at least PHP150 million.
“Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Alan Luga disclosed on Tuesday, October 15, that more than half of the said amount went to fuel expenses and maintenance of the military’s C-130 aircraft while the rest were spent for food, medicines and hospitalization of soldiers,” reports William B. Depasupil in The Manila Times.
But that’s not yet it.
Luga also explained that “the cost of bullets and other war materiel used by soldiers during the 21-day operation were not yet included in the computation.” Moreover, there are still clearing and mopping operations.
Then there’s all the property damage.
