Philippine Navy official hopes next admin will continue AFP modernization

The Philippine Navy is hoping that the next administration would continue with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, the head of the Offshore Combat Force said Friday.

Offshore Combat Force commander Commodore Joe Anthony Orbe said they are expecting that the next administration will continue prioritizing the program because it is supported by the law.

“Of course dyan sa mataas na posisyon, lalong-lalo na ikaw yung commander-in-chief, ikaw ang presidente, naiintindihan namin maraming concerns,” Orbe said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Of course in that high position, especially if you are the commander-in-chief and president, we understand that there would be numerous concerns.)

“But as far as we're concerned, we are hoping na ipagpatuloy itong pagmo-modernize ng ating sandatahang lakas (that the modernization of the armed forces would continue),” he added.

In April, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said funding can be a problem in Horizon 3 of the program as the assets that will be acquired,  like fighter planes and submarines, are more sophisticated.

“Now it depends on how the money will be made available to us in the coming years,” he said.

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leads the presidential race with 31,104,175 votes based on partial and unofficial count from the COMELEC Transparency Media Server with 98.35% of election returns already processed as of 01:02 p.m. — DVM, GMA News