RP leader vows to update military

RP leader vows to update military

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada pledged on
Tuesday to modernize the country's ill-equipped armed forces and
protect the country's territories, including a disputed chain of
South China Sea islands.

"We will preserve our constitution and preserve our
territorial integrity. We will not shirk, or quit by default,
from our responsibility of defending our sovereignty and
strategic maritime interests," Estrada said in a speech marking
the 63rd anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Estrada said he was counting on the military leadership to
"professionalize its officers and ranks" and he promised "support
to upgrade military and weaponry to enable our AFP (Armed Forces
of the Philippines) to address the present day challenges at all
cost."

The Philippines' armed forces is considered one of the weakest
in the region, with most of its firearms and equipment dating
back to World War II.

An ambitious 331 billion peso ($8.3 billion) military
modernization program was shelved this year due to the regional
economic crisis.