(Or: "Thoughts after the recent acquisiton of weapons
And how the order treats modernisation whether to defend the nation
or to upheld the order")
By Kat Ulrike
It is not surprising that the administration has turned "westwards" after the recent "donation" of 8 Million Dollars worth of guided bombs and missiles needed for counterinsurgency purposes.
For the fact that the administration has been looking "eastward" for acquiring weapons for its modernisation of the armed forces, the administration's perchance for strongmen like US President Donald Trump has mellowed its anti-American angst. What more that it benefited more from that recent "donation" of those US-made arms.
Earlier, the administration has signed an agreement for the purchase of the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile, again as part of its modernisation plan. That missile has been brought amidst rising tensions with China over the disputed isles in the West Philippine Sea. Another agreement, this time with France, involves supplying the country with Submarines with the Defence secretary highlighted French submarines as being among the appropriate choices for the Philippines as it considers the capability. The French shipbuilder Naval Group plans to open an office in Manila in early 2021 as it seeks to advance its serious interest in supplying the Philippine Navy’s first ever submarines.
However, back to the topic, it seems that for the order it doesn't matter about defending its territory but instead to defend its interests in the name of "counterterrorism". With the recent witchhunts and redtaggings would say that the order as planning to unleash its wave of attack that embolden the order's attack dogs in their dirty war of suppression. And not surprising if countries that promised support for improving Philippines' defence is itself supporting the order's action against the people.
And with US Support, the order has conducted relentless aerial bombing and artillery shelling campaigns, a repeat of the total destruction of Marawi in an attempt to destroy the rebels- despite the fact that aerial bombardment against moving guerrilla targets violate the international principle of proportionality and always potentially bring losses to civilian lives and property. Of course, that "rebel" isn't the CIA-supported Abu Sayyaf or the Maute group!
On second thought would say that those weapons are yes, modern indeed to be used in defending the country against external invasion, that the BrahMos and the Scorpene Submarines, or even the guided bombs and drones as necessary weapons for defending the country against the invader. But with the reality that the regime will use those weapons to "flatten the hills", this meant otherwise: destroying communities, homes, and sources of livelihood; bringing nothing but fear and suffering as these folks rather forced to be displaced by the order.
Perhaps, this kind of "donation" as all but one of the moves for Trump as a gesture of support for his vassal Duterte. Especially with Biden's likely coming as US President may meant his Democrats willing to persecute Duterte out being an international pariah in terms of human rights.