MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senator Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel on Monday reminded the Department of National Defense (DND) not to accept donated聽equipment from other countries that are incompatible with the existing weapons system in the nation鈥檚 military arsenal.
Pimentel said this after he received a report that the DND did not utilize certain equipment donated to them.
However, he did not delve into specifics.
鈥淜aya siguro kung may nagdodonate din sa atin ng mga alien weapon system naman, na hindi rin naman natin gagamitin kesa mapuna pa tayo na tumatanggap tayo ng donation pinapatulog lang daw natin, hindi daw natin ginagamit, 鈥榳ag na nating tanggapin,鈥� Pimentel said during the Senate plenary deliberations of DND鈥檚 proposed P233 billion budget.
(If someone is donating a weapon system that is alien to us and cannot be used, rather than get criticized for taking donations and not using them, let鈥檚 just not accept them in the first place.)
鈥淢ay umabot na sa akin 鈥� I don鈥檛 know if weapon system yon or a communication system 鈥� na dinonate, tinanggap, tulog, tulog lang daw sa DND nandoon lang,鈥� he further said.
(Reports have reached me 鈥� I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 a weapon system or a communication system that was donated and received by us, but it was only stocked in the DND.)
Pimentel said refusing these donated equipment is more responsible and dignified.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a better, more responsible and respectful action with dignity,鈥� he said, noting that the DND could tell donors that 鈥渨e do not need this, this does not fit in our system, maybe some other country would appreciate more your donation.鈥�
鈥淚big sabihin, gumraduate na din ang Pilipinas na sa tanggap lang nang tanggap ng lahat ng donation,鈥� he further said.
(Meaning, the Philippines already graduated from just being a recepient of donations.)
To this, Senator Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa said: 鈥淲ell,聽聽DND is taking note of that observation.鈥�
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