Defense chief: State of PHL Navy ‘deplorable’

Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the need to upgrade the capabilities of the Navy amid recent reports of foreign intrusions on Philippine waters and airspace. At the celebration of the Navy’s 113th anniversary, Gazmin described the state of the Philippine Navy as “deplorable," citing the lack of assets needed in performing its mandate of protecting Philippine waters from intruders. Gazmin said the procurement and replacement of naval assets come few and far between, and that the remaining ones have operational capabilities that are “far below naval standards as they await to lie on their keels in the graveyards." “This is truly deplorable but plain reality," the Defense chief said in his speech. Citing the “depleted status" of Navy ships, Gazmin said there is an “urgent need to acquire more potent and more credible sea platform." “Procurement and replacement of our naval assets came few and far between. And for one reason or another, there was simply no available funds for the modernization of Navy and our military," he said. The Navy, at present, has only about 100 assorted ships in its inventory, including logistic vessels. Last May 13, the Philippine military received from the United States a 50-year-old Hamilton Class Coast Guard cutter ship. Gazmin said the ship “will be a big boost to our fleet considering its multi-role capability." At least two supposed harassments in the disputed Spratlys Island area have already been reported by the military this year, both at the area near Reed Bank off Palawan province. Last week, the military reported the sightings of two foreign fighter jets, whose type and origin were unknown, over the area. Sources said the jets, believed to be from China, harassed by “buzzing" the two Philippine Air Force OV-10 bomber planes that were on reconnaissance mission that time. In March, two Chinese vessels allegedly intruded into the Philippine waters and harassed a Department of Energy exploration vessel at the Reed Bank. — KBK, GMA News