Air Farce
In the battlefield, an attack helicopter goes down, killing the co-pilot. As the MG-520 of the Philippine Air Force was fished out of the waters off Basilan the other day, it didn’t look like the crash was caused by enemy fire. Neither Islamic separatists nor Abu Sayyaf bandits have been known to open fire on airborne aircraft. Air Force officials grounded the PAF’s fleet of MG-520s — all 17 of them remaining — pending the results of an investigation into the cause of the crash.At least it didn’t look like the MG-520 met its doom after getting tangled in a kite string. That was another helicopter, downed earlier this year. That accident would be funny if it didn’t highlight the pathetic state of the Air Force’s fleet. Other PAF aircraft have crashed due to engine malfunction. An Italian-made trainer jet became so notorious for fatal crashes it was dubbed the “widow maker.” With planes and helicopters like these, who needs terrorists?
The political leadership has long given low priority to defense spending. Part of the reason was that for nearly a century, the country had the US security umbrella to rely on for most of its defense needs. The political order of priorities did not change when US troops were kicked out of the Philippines and the country lost its umbrella. When it finally dawned on political leaders that national defense required naval patrol boats that do not conk out in the high seas because of age or lack of fuel, and modern aircraft and helicopters to support ground and naval forces, the government had to scrounge around for funding sources.
The government is still scrounging to finance a modest military modernization program. In the meantime, troops in the frontlines continue to die in aircraft crashes or walk into ambuscades while armed with dud mortar rounds. How many of the soldiers killed since July in Basilan and Sulu could have avoided death if they had the proper weapons and equipment? It’s time for national leaders to go beyond lip service in promoting the welfare of the military’s fighting men and women.
