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We have great soldiers, but they’re horribly underpaid and ill-equipped.
“The Palace is defending the modernization efforts for the AFP after it was tagged as the world’s sixth worst military by the website WeAreTheMighty.com, which publishes military-themed stories,” reports Louis Bacani on Philstar.com.
The 10 countries with the worst militaries, according to the website, are the following:
1. Costa Rica
2. Iraq
3. North Korea
4. Eritrea
5. Nigeria
6. Philippines
7. Tajikistan
8. Mongolia
9. Saudi Arabia
10. Afghanistan
Thus on Thu, Oct 22, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. pointed out in a press briefing that the administration has completed 56 projects under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.
“Sa simula’t sapul ay kinilala ng Aquino administration ang kahalagahan ng pagpapahusay sa mga kagamitan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas (From the beginning, the Aquino administration has beena ware of the need to upgrade the equipment of the Armed Forces),” Coloma said in a press briefing.
The report noted: “Coloma said President Aquino also approved recently the acquisition of several big-ticket items for the military including two navy frigates worth P18 billion, two long-range patrol aircraft worth PHP5.9 billion, two naval helicopters worth PHP5.4 billion and six close air support aircraft worth PHP4.97 billion.”
That said, the WeAreTheMighty.com write-up pointed out, “Despite the Chinese military buildup in the region, with aggressive moves by the Chinese to claim areas and build islands close to the Philippines, the Philippines’ Naval and Air Forces are still nearly 60 years old and its ships are old U.S. Coast Guard cutters.”
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