AFP open to proposal to relocate Camp Aguinaldo

The military is open to the proposal to relocate its main headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo, in hopes that the money that will be culled from it will boost its long delayed modernization program. In an interview Wednesday, Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said concerned offices will “carefully study" the proposal made by property developer Ortigas & Co. once it is formally submitted to the military establishment. “We have to carefully study it because we know that the thrust of [President Benigno Aquino III] is to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its modernization program," he said. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is open to this kind of proposals. Just like any other proposal, we have to carefully study it," he added. During his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, President Aquino revealed plans to lease some military camps and properties to fund the AFP modernization program. Ortigas & Co. first offered to relocate Camp Aguinaldo and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) national headquarters, Camp Crame, which are both in Quezon City, during the Arroyo administration, particularly during the stint of Avelino Cruz as Defense secretary. The plan was shelved after Cruz resigned in 2006. With the new administration, Ortigas & Co. chief operating officer Rex Drilon said they are renewing their proposal to modernize both the AFP and the PNP while allowing the sale and commercial development of both camps. Republic Act 7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act, was signed into law on 23 February 23, 1995. It seeks to modernize the AFP in a 15-year time frame to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty of the country. - KBK, GMANews.TV