SENATOR Juan Ponce Enrile today pressed for the modernization of the ill-equipped Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which he said has been allowed to deteriorate since the 1986 revolution.

    Enrile made the call following the crash of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 transport plane yesterday at a sea near Davao city, leaving the PAF with only one C-310 plane.

    Enrile said the C-130 could not have been sabotaged since the aircraft is heavily guarded by the PAF bases but the cause could "probably be mechanical."

    "We don’t have enough equipment. No fighter planes now, except counter-insurgency aircraft," Enrile said.

    The 15-year modernization program requires a total funding of P237 billion.

    Part of the funding for the modernization program was to come from the sale of military assets, specifically military bases, but a substantial portion of the funds generated by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) were reportedly plowed back to the general fund during the Ramos administration.

    He said he has pressed the PAF to accelerate the repair of three US-made C-130 planes "if there are spare parts."   [top]