Missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (File photo courtesy of Philippine Navy) MANILA - The Department of National Defense (DND) is requesting a "sunset review" from the House of Representatives to get congressional support for Horizon Three of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, which includes mostly "big-ticket" projects for the Navy and Air Force. In a briefing Thursday, DND Officer in Charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. said the "sunset review" is mandated by Republic Act 10349, also known as the Revised AFP Modernization Act, which requires Congress to conduct a "systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impact" of the law. "Ang purpose natin dito is (our purpose here is) to generate congressional support for Horizon Three, kasi Horizon Three will start next year and (run) for another five years. But at the rate it is going right now, Horizon Three will be 'big-ticket' items, (and) whe
DND officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. (PNA photo by Joey Razon) MANILA - Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. said he sees more engagements between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its Japanese counterparts. "We have a very robust defense cooperation with Japan, particularly with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Japan continues to be an observer in our 'Balikatan" Exercises and just lately we had our 2+2 (Meeting) and a lot of things came out of that, we are trying to come up with terms of reference, umbrella terms of reference where we could participate more particularly on HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response)," Faustino said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday. He was referring to the successful Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2) between the Philippines and Japan last April. The defense chief also said he earlier met with Japan Pa
DND officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. (center); Brazil's Special Envoy to Asean Piragibe Tarrag (left) and BrazilianAmbassador to Manila Antonio J. M. de Souza e Silva (right) (Photo courtesy of DND) MANILA - The Philippines and Brazil look forward to having stronger defense ties following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation between the two countries. Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., met with representatives from the Brazilian government headed by Special Envoy to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Piragibe Tarrag and Ambassador to Manila Antonio J. M. de Souza e Silva at DND main office on Wednesday. "With the recent signing of MOU on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Brazil, Senior Undersecretary Faustino solicited Brazil's support for the ASEAN Outlook in the Indo-Pacific and welcomed the further development of bilateral c