AFP should continue receiving a lion share in the yearly budget-Estrada

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 3, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada expressed his belief that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should continue receiving a huge share in the yearly budget although hundreds of millions of pesos of military funds were already lost due to some corrupt military generals.

Estrada said that these revelations on the ‘generosity’ of some high rank military officers in rewarding not only their peers but even themselves of additional benefits should not put us off in addressing the concerns of thousands of our lowly soldiers.

In the light of the expose on the misuse of funds, the senator enjoined colleagues to review the salary structure of the rank and file and junior officers vis-à-vis the senior officials in the AFP.

Estrada lamented that this is an eye-opener for all of us in connection with the overindulgence of some generals at the expense of the taxpayers. Our soldiers, who are in the line of fire, who have chosen to embrace the noble profession of arms, should be spared from this scandal. 

It is a reality that ordinary soldiers remain ill-equip and under paid despite the scandal which rocked the military cradle. He still believe that there are only few rotten eggs in the military and non of them belong to the rank and file. (Jason de Asis)