AFP modernization ‘not meant to increase tensions‘

President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Thursday said the modernization efforts for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should not be seen as militarization especially by countries with claims to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea0.

“Lest anyone accuse us of shifting to a more militaristic position, I must emphasize: Our efforts seek to modernize the capabilities of our security sector is to address the needs in human disaster response arenas and for our own internal defense,” Aquino said in his speech at this year’s Asian Defense, Security and Crisis Management Exhibition.