Efforts to build up the armed forces began under former president Benigno Aquino III in 2012 after the ambitious AFP modernization push in 1995 did not go as planned. “The greatest challenge is the lack of equipment,” Lorenzana said in Filipino. “Because AFP equipment is deployed all over the country. The Philippines was also a recipient of assorted military equipment from the United States worth almost P2 billion. Lorenzana said the Philippines would no longer be bullied if it had a minimum credible defense posture, but without identifying who is the bully.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 28, 2020 23:15 UTC