Better gear on tap for PH forces

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa said the military is planning to upgrade the military gear of Filipino soldiers participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

Dellosa lauded the Filipino soldiers who are part of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights, an area disputed by Israel and Syria, after he visited them earlier this month.

“I appreciate and laud the sacrifices of our contingent as we do our share in promoting peace and security wherever we can,” Dellosa said in a statement.

Winning peace

“As we give priority to addressing internal security concerns and territorial defense, our troops who are winning the peace around the world also deserve attention for their contribution to international peace and stability,” he said.

The military chief said the upgrades would focus on force-protection gear for the Filipino peacekeepers, including protection-enhanced service helmets and bulletproof vests, and the deployment of Filipino-made armored patrol vehicles.

Key ingredient

“While we rely heavily on the dependability, quality and performance of our equipment and military hardware in accomplishing our mission’s essential tasks, the men and women operating them still remain as the key ingredient that would spell success in every peacekeeping mission,” Dellosa said.

“That is why it is a must that we continue to provide our peacekeepers with better gear and equipment for their individual protection during patrols and security operations.” he said.

Inspection

During his visit to the Golan Heights on July 10-15, Dellosa conducted a thorough inspection of the facilities and other equipment of the Filipino peacekeepers assigned there.

He instructed Colonel Abraham Casis, chief of the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center, to explore the possibility of deploying Philippine-made armored patrol vehicles to mission areas.

Dellosa said the acquisition of these armored patrol vehicles, whether manufactured in the Philippines or abroad, could be included in the AFP Modernization Program. Philip C. Tubeza