Retired AFP, PNP officials ask for budget review

Over a dozen retired officials of the military, police and coast guard are asking President Marcos to look into controversial allocations in the proposed 2025 national budget that seem to prioritize less important items at the expense of vital ones, including defense and security.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

In an open letter, they said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program's P15-billion reduction from its planned P50-billion budget for next year is among their concerns.

The retired AFP and PNP officials said this "reduces national defense efforts and hinders the AFP's ability to confront security concerns and modernize necessary equipment."

"Restoring the full allocation is important for maintaining the country's sovereignty and military readiness," their open letter to the President read.

"We, the retired and concerned members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Uniformed Personnel, UP Vanguard, civil society and civic organizations and concerned citizens of the Republic, are writing to you today to convey our serious concerns regarding the questionable deviations of the approved General Appropriations Bill 2025 from the National Expenditure Program that Your Excellency submitted to Congress," they said.

"These changes are the remarkable upgrades and new items which are unnecessary and which favor less important needs at the expense of the most basic needs of the Filipino people, including the welfare and security of our country," they added.

The retired officials said they are asking the President to return the budget to the bicameral conference committee "for a thorough and open assessment to ensure that allocations are consistent with the nation's priorities and address the most pressing needs of the Filipino people."

"Furthermore, we urge Your Excellency to use your veto power to delete extraneous clauses and support the return of monies to essential sectors that were unfairly disregarded throughout the financial process," they said.