No Grievances in Military Ranks: AFP Spox

There are no grievances wracking the ranks of the military, newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin Jr. said Tuesday.

“We (always) go by (our) mandate always and we have a grievance system. Right now (our) soldiers are very professional,” Datuin said.

The grievance committee of the AFP is operational should anyone from their ranks feel a need to air their sentiments on any issue, he added.

The AFP spokesperson made the statement to clarify reports claiming that military personnel are against charter change, as well as issues plaguing the PHP18 billion frigate acquisition project.

“Wala (naman), we are all for modernization, capability upgrade, and the improvement of the Armed Forces,” he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is standing by Hyundai Heavy Industries’ decision to use the Hanwha CMS for two ships while former Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado is batting for the Thales Tacticos system.

The impasse, which caused the relief of Mercado last December, prompted the Senate to conduct a hearing on the issue last Feb. 19. (PNA)