AFP: No reason to move main camp out of QC

The military on Sunday disputed the points raised by a Quezon City official in proposing to move Camp Aguinaldo, home of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense, out of a 178-hectare prime lot in the city due to security reasons. In his resolution filed before the Quezon City Council, Councilor Godofredo Liban said Camp Aguinaldo poses a great risk to nearby residents who may be caught in crossfire in case of attacks by armed groups. He also noted that the ammunition, bombs and other artillery stockpiled in the camp may also endanger the residents in case of accidents, deliberate attempts and sabotage. But according to AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, there is no armed group that is capable of attacking Camp Aguinaldo. “We do not have any single enemy of the state which is that big, that large that can attack the biggest military camp. What they can actually attack are far-flung detachments, undermanned detachments, but not a camp which has thousands of men," Mabanta said on Sunday. On the possibility of incidents involving the stockpiled munitions, Mabanta said these war materiel “are secured and from time to time, these are constantly inspected." Aside from Camp Aguinaldo, Liban also wants Camp Crame, the 133-hectare headquarters of the Philippine National Police that is adjacent to Camp Aguinaldo, out of Quezon City for the same reasons. The councilor said transferring the two camps out of the city “would bring in development that would benefit the city," noting that these installations are sitting on prime real estate properties. Mabanta said transferring Camp Aguinaldo may not that simple, adding that 26.6 hectares of the properly had been donated by the Ortigas family, “which means that it cannot be sold." “If we sell it, if we do not use it anymore for military purpose, it reverts back to the ownership of the Ortigas (family)," said Mabanta. Mabanta, however, admitted that there are plans to commercialize portion of the camp. “But there is no plan to completely vacate the whole camp," he quickly added. - KBK, GMANews.TV