Soldiers wrongly expected to protect gov’t plunderers

Our soldiers are victims as well of the plundering political elite.

- JARIUS BONDOC

They're deprived of critical facilities and basic gear. Politicos divert AFP modernization funds to pork barrels.

Floods wreck soldiers’ homes like civilians.’ Their children are as poor in Math, Sciences and Reading Comprehension. Their PhilHealth benefits are stolen along with other contributors’. Off-base, their families buy the same costly food. All due to the greedy political class.

These have been happening for the past five years under two presidents. Malacañang has allowed supermajority allies in Congress to realign AFP modernization budgets to fake or faulty flood works.

“Corrupt politicians have denied the Armed Forces the modern defense equipment, aircraft, ships and communication they urgently need to face our adversary now on our doorstep,” retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan told this writer.

Politicos have withheld even “sustainment resources like fuel, for more patrol hours on the seas and in the air, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” lamented the former AFP deputy chief of staff.

Delayed are “much-needed infrastructure for Navy ships to dock and Air Force planes to hangar - leaving our equipment exposed,” Adan said.

“Delayed too are procurements of surveillance radars and sensors - leaving our country naked to aggression,” Adan added.

Point Horizon-3 of the AFP Modernization has been pushed back more than a decade, he said. “Ridiculous when seen in the light of horrendous corruption by greedy politicians and their cohorts. How will our soldiers prevail?”

Communist China has built up its military to 3,733 combat planes, 787 naval warships, 164 coastguard cutters, 4,600 maritime militia steel trawlers, 6,900 tanks, 1,400 short range ballistic missiles and 2,035,000 soldiers. Bulk are concentrated in the South China Sea.