MODERNIZATION of the Armed Forces, expansion of trade opportunities, intensified campaign against cybercrimes, and job opportunities for Filipinos in Guam topped the list of discussions Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had with his US counterparts during his working visit to Washington DC as a follow-up to President Marcos Jr’s visit to the United States last April.
Zubiri said he had the chance to talk to Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland where “we had a very successful discussion” on Philippine-US relations not only on defense matters but also on “how we can expand more economic activities between our two countries.
“And we discussed full support for the AFP modernization. And also, we discussed with other key intelligence officials, of course, the situation in the Pacific, the side of the Pacific. During those two meetings, during those several meetings, we came up with a certain number of measures that we need to amend and support,” he said at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
He said deeper talks on defense matters delved into the US wanting to strengthen the Philippines’ “defense manufacturing capabilities.
“They’re willing to convince arms manufacturers to move shop to the Philippines to partner with Filipino companies na dito na gagawin itong mga defense materials na ito (so that defense materials can be manufactured here) instead of the AFP choosing and ordering arms from abroad,” he said.
Zubiri said the Senate has to amend the AFP Modernization Law, “particularly on the provision of procuring “brand new” items to change it to “modern equipment.”
He said the Procurement Law should also be amended so that the AFP will not be compelled to purchase the “cheapest” equipment available but could be of inferior quality.
Zubiri said he also received information that the Netherlands wants to sell to the Philippines its 10 to 12-year-old F16 fighter jets so it can replace them with the F35 Raptors.
He said under the offer, the country will pay for 12 F16 fighter jets at the price of three new ones.
Other than defense, Zubiri said he also discussed with his counterparts matters on “economic upliftment.”
“They are all in agreement that we need more economic development in the Philippines. They said that they will convince American companies who want to pull out of China to transfer to the Philippines. ‘Yan ang pangako nila sa amin (That’s their promise to us),” he added.
Zubiri said his talks with Cong. James Moylan of Guam was something to look forward to as there are plans to hire around 10,000 to 15,000 Filipinos to work for the construction of bases in the US territory.
He said Moylan bared the plan as US bases in Okinawa have been closing shop and are now being transferred to Guam.
“And because they are moving to Guam, Cong. Moylan is insisting to the US government that they hire Filipinos to construct the new bases and they are looking at 10,000 to 15,000 Filipino workers to work in Guam and help build up the bases,” he said.
Zubiri said US lawmakers also requested that the Philippine Congress strengthen the country’s anti-cybercrime law “because they were pointing out that there were several facilities in the Philippines that are prone to cybercrime, ‘yung internet tapping, hacking (the internet tapping, hacking).
“Ang gusto nating gawin, anti-cybercrime law on a large scale, ‘yung mga companies, government facilities na sina-cyber hack, dapat meron tayong batas on how to, number one, compel government agencies to make sure that they have strong cybercrime program (We want to craft an anti-cybercrime law on a large scale so that companies, government facilities targeted by cyber-attacks have strong anti-cybercrime programs),” he said.
Zubiri stayed in Washington DC for three weeks and returned last Wednesday (June 28).
Aside from Nuland, he said he had the chance to meet with Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Sen. Tim Scott of Carolina, Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama, Rep. James Moylan of Guam, Rep. Michale Lawler of New York, Rep. Coleman Radewagen of American Samoa, Rep. Robert Scott of Virginia, Rep. Gregorio Sablan of Northern Mariana, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Lindsey Ford, among others.
