MANILA, Philippines – Hinimok ni Retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Antonio Carpio ang mga mambabatas na isuko ang kanilang discretionary funds sa loob ng 25 taon para makadagdag bilang pondo ng modernization program ng Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP).
Ani Carpio, ang Pilipinas “must prepare for the worst by strengthening its self-defense capabilities at all costs while hoping for the best,” Carpio said in an online forum, after slamming the United States for voting against a United Nations position to condemn Russia for its “unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
“For the first time in memory, the US has voted in favor of the aggressor state against the victim of aggression,” aniya.
“The coastal state bordering the South China Sea are forewarned that China will now be emboldened to act aggressively in making the 9-dash line its international boundary in the South China Sea,” dagdag pa ni Carpio.
“Members of the Philippines Congress must forego their humongous, annual pork barrel for the next 25 years for the Philippines to modernize its Armed Forces to defend the West Philippine Sea.”
Matatandaan na naunang ipinanukala ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang P50 bilyong badyet para sa modernization program ng AFP ngayong taon.
Sa kabila nito ay sinubukan ng mga mambabatas sa Kamara na tapyasan ang pondo ng nasa P10 bilyon, ngunit agad naman na naharang ng Senado. RNT/JGC
