Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday July 7 stressed the importance of efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the July 4 C-130 transport plane crash in Patikul, Sulu that killed 50 of its 96 passengers.
Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security, said he supports AFP modernization efforts so that military troops are appropriately equipped to protect their safety, as they are the frontline in protecting the welfare and well-being of Filipinos particularly in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
“Ako naman bilang vice chairman sa Committee on Defense sa Senado, suportado ko po ang modernization ng AFP; suportado ko po ang karagdagang kagamitan para sa ating AFP (As vice chairman of the Senate Defense and Security committee support the modernization of the AFP, I support additional equipment for the AFP). And, in fact, pag-upo ni Pangulong Duterte, isa sa inuna namin ni Pangulong Duterte idoble ang sahod nila noong 2018 (In fact, when President Duterte became President, we doubled the pay of the AFP in 2018),” Go said.
Earlier, Duterte and Go visited government troops who were injured by the incident at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command Gymnasium in Zamboanga City on July 5.
The Office of the President also provided financial assistance and other items to the families of soldiers who died or were injured during the incident.
On the other hand, Go's office distributed additional financial aid to the families and other items.
“Dapat po full support ang ating mga sundalo, not only sa kanilang personal na sweldo but mga armas po (There should be full support for our soldiers not only their pay but their equipment). Pinapapunta natin sila sa digmaan, ang mga eroplano, mga helicopter po dapat unang-una (When we order them to go to war, priority should be on their planes and helicopters),’’ Go said.
The senator from Davao also urged the AFP to always safeguard the safety of their personnel and that their aircrafts are in good working order.
Go also stated that if a Senate investigation is conducted, he is willing to participate in it in order to learn more about what happened during the incident and to make sure that it would not happen again.