Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) News, 2024-2025



March 26, 2025: How the AFP rose from the Ashes of Martial Law, and picked a Fight with China
I think every Filipino knows that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for Decades after the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Revolution was not funded enough or largely ignored. However, most Filipinos seems to have forgotten WHY it is so. Some think it was just Laziness on the Part of our Government, or something like that. 

However, as far as I know, the Reason for that is simply because People thought and felt that the AFP helped perpetuate the Dictatorial Regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Remember that many in the AFP were accused of committing Atrocities like Torture, Murder, etc. 

Of course in the End it was the AFP that helped topple the Marcos Sr. Regime, but it took a long time, around 14 Years after the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. Hence I think there was that feeling of Blame in the AFP, hence for a long time it wasn't funded as much. 

But Things changed in the 2010s, when some supposed "Geniuses" thought, "Why don't we pick a Fight with China? That will convince People to spend more for the AFP". Why China? Because the bigger the Enemy, the more Money that needs to be spent to fight it. 

Also it is convenient that the United States (US) which our Military idolizes so much also wants to fight China. So it was like hitting at least two Birds with one Stone. And the rest is History, it worked beautifully. A Decade after the 2010s, our Military finally entered the Missile Age, and it is where we are now ...

March 19, 2025: Philippines may acquire more Missiles and other Systems from India, wants to collaborate with Ukraine on Drone Warfare – AFP Chief
The current Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Romeo Brawner Jr. recently gave an Interview with the Indian Press where he outlined some of their latest Acquisition Plans, and among these are: 

* The AFP is looking at the possibility of procuring more Missile Systems and other Platforms from India
* The AFP is also interested in collaborating with Ukraine to develop their Drone and Counter-Drone Technology, especially after Ukraine's extensive experience with Drone Warfare in their ongoing War with Russia

MY NOTES:
It seems that the AFP is now moving forward with their Plans to acquire more BrahMos Missiles which they said before they would do this Year of 2025, and possibly maybe even the Akash. The Philippine Army (PA) earlier denied that a Contract for the Akash will be out soon, but it may still go thru. 

I am still working on my Blog about the Akash, not sure if I’ll finish it soon because of all these Political and other Distractions right now though. As of now though, I don’t like it, too heavy and only a few Missiles ready at the Moment. Not even sure of its Cost, still researching but it doesn’t seem to be as cheap as it should be.

As for Ukraine, I think it is very apt that the AFP wants to work with them since the 'Bangag' Administration seems to be intent now in turning our Country to be the next Ukraine, the “Ukraine of Asia”, the next Sacrificial Battleground of the West against its Enemies. 

So it will be like the “Passing of the Baton”, from one gullible and manipulated Country to the next ...


February 12, 2025: AFP Chief said they plan to get more BrahMos Missile starting this Year of 2025, and says Submarines are needed for the Philippines 
Some Updates recently from no less than the Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Romeo Brawner Junior to the Press:

* More PJ-10 BrahMos Missiles are being acquired starting this Year of 2025. Quoting from Brawner himself: “We are getting more of this (BrahMos System) this Year, and in the coming Years”

* He also said that it is their “Dream” to get Submarines, and that it is vital for the Defense of the Philippines. Quoting Brawner again: “It's a Dream for us to get at least two Submarines. We are an Archipelago. So we have to have this type of Capability, because it's really difficult to defend that entire Archipelago without Submarines”.


January 20, 2025: AFP Modernization Update, January 20, 2025
Some Updates on the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the Press from a supposed "Procurement Monitoring Report" by the Department of National Defense (DND). However, I can't find any such Report from the DND on their or other Government Websites. At any rate, since the Press is reporting it, so here they are:

* 12 additional FA-50PH Fighting Eagle Aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for Php 40 billion, or Usd 683.6 million assuming an Exchange Rate of Php 58.51 per Dollar thru a Government to Government Deal

* Undisclosed Number of Bell 412EPX Helicopters for the Philippine Army (PA) for Emergency Medical Missions worth Php 1 billion, or Usd 17 million

* Contract for six A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft for the PAF confirmed, cost was reportedly worth Php 6.5 billion or Usd 111.09 million 

* Upgrade of existing FA-50PH Aircraft of the PAF

* Cyber Systems of the AFP Upgrade 

* Upgrade to the SPYDER-MR Surface to Air Missile (SAM) Systems of the PAF

* Missiles and Systems upgrade for the Malvar-class Corvettes of the Philippine Navy (PN)

* Missiles for the PAF

* BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) to be delivered in March 2025 while BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07) to be launched more or less around that Month

* Php 3.03 billion to be spent for the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) Upgrade

Here is the Link to the Article at the “Inquirer” Website: https://www.inquirer.net/425820/ph-to-procure-12-more-light-fighters-from-south-korea/ 

January 10, 2025: Coastal Radars donated by Japan will also be installed in Batanes
The Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Romeo Brawner Junior recently said that they intend to install the Coastal Surveillance Radars that Japan is donating to the Philippines on various Waterways around the Country, which includes the Island Province of Batanes. 

Installing Radars there will allow the Philippines to monitor the "Bashi Channel" which is between Batanes and Taiwan. Brawner also added that in the Event of War in Taiwan happens, they intend to evacuate Filipinos working in Taiwan to Batanes. 

Here is the Link to “The Mainichi” Website: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250110/p2g/00m/0in/006000c 

January 14, 2025: AFP should allow “The Wayback Machine” to access their Websites also
Dear Philippine Army (PA), and also the rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Please exclude “The Wayback Machine (TWM)” Website from your Firewalls, this is so your Documents, Web Pages, etc. can be backed up there also. 

Currently, because of your Website Settings, whenever I try to back up a Page or Document at TWM, it is being blocked. TWM is a non-Profit, Digital Archive Website which aims to back up as much of the Internet as possible for future Generations to see and access, so I hope you allow it to archive the Public Information that you share also.  

Here is the Link to the TWM Web Archive: https://web.archive.org/ 
SOURCE: The Wayback Machine Web Archive {Archived Link}

January 5, 2025: Lawmakers and BBM cuts AFP Modernization Budget down to only Php 35 billion
Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) initially asked for Php 50 billion, or around Usd 860 million assuming an Exchange Rate of Php 58.11 per Dollar, for the Modernization of the Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) for this Year of 2025, but the Senate and House of Representatives cut this down to only Php 35 billion or Usd 602 million, and ultimately this is what will be implemented. 

This is now actually lower than the Php 40 billion that was allocated to the AFP Modernization last Year of 2024. 

I just find it very ironic that this Government, meaning the Lawmakers and the Executive Department are always calling out China and how they are supposedly encroaching our Territory, and that we need to defend it, blah-blah-blah, but in the End are not willing to fully fund the Modernization of the AFP. 

It goes to show that those are just all talk, if not why would the Lawmakers insist on cutting that Budget, then? Why would BBM agree to have the Budget cut, does he have not control of the Lawmakers which his Party dominates so they will do what he wants to do? 

Anyway, again, that is the Way Things are now under this Administration ...


December 22, 2024: More Pics of the Bongbong Rocket
Just another Picture from another Angle of the Bongbong Rocket that is being unveiled at the newly renovated Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Museum in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. I am also posting an Image comparing a Picture taken of the Bongbong Rocket around 50 Years ago already in the mid-1970s and one that was taken just a couple of Days ago. 
SOURCES: 

December 22, 2024: Marcos Sr. Rocket Program Blog I made in 2015
ARTICLE|I just realized that there are some of you here who are not familiar with the History of the Bongbong Rocket Program. So let me just share a Backgrounder about it and the other local Rocket Program of the Father of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM), former President and Dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. on a Blog I made a Decade ago now, back in 2015. 

Here is the Link to my Blog at my “The rhk111 Military and Arms Page” Website:  https://therhk111militaryandarmspage.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-mystery-of-marcos-rocket-program.html

December 20, 2024: Bongbong Rocket unveiled at the AFP Museum
It looks like the Bongbong Rocket will finally be unveiled, and in full Display at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Museum in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. I remember the first time I saw it at the Philippine Navy (PN) Camp in Cavite many Years ago. 

It was the biggest Rocket I have ever seen in Personal and up close at that time, but they strictly didn’t allow the taking of its Pictures then, as posted in Notices on the Wall next to it. I was hoping that it would finally be unveiled, though, and here it is. 

The AFP Museum has also been renovated, but it is not yet open to the Public as of now, but will be soon. They didn’t say exactly when it will be open though.

Here is the Link to the Article at the “Presidential Communications Office (PCO)” Website: https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-launches-renovated-afp-museum/

Check out the Links to my other Social Media Accounts at https://linktr.ee/rhk111

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