The Communist Party of the Philippines condemned the AFP for purchasing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, which remains unused and stored in warehouses in Zambales. The missiles were bought for $375 million as part of the AFP’s modernization program.

On April 23, the second batch of missiles arrived in the Philippines. The first batch arrived in the country in April 2024. The first batch is stockpiled in a warehouse because the AFP failed to prepare proper storage facilities. This prompted Sen. Chiz Escudero to push for a ₱10 billion reduction in the AFP’s 2025 “modernization” budget. Defense Sec. Teodoro himself admitted there remain no storage facilities for the second batch of missiles.

“The AFP wantonly spends on arms it has no plans of using, and then leave them to collect dust,” CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said. “What a huge waste of the people’s money.”

“In the midst of hunger and hardship of millions of Filipinos, it is infuriating that the AFP and Marcos are wasting money on weapons,” Valbuena added.

The contract was signed in January 2022 between the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte and BrahMos Aerospace, a joint Indian-Russian company. It was marketed as part of the arsenal to “strengthen coastal defense” in the face of “Chinese aggression.” The first batch of missiles worth ₱8 billion arrived in April 2024.

“They bought the BrahMos because Duterte insisted, and Lorenzana and the US reluctantly agreed,” said Valbuena. “It is likely Duterte pocketed a large amount from those contracts, which cannot be canceled because it would harm diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.”

“The BrahMos are probably already infested with termites,” said Valbuena. “Would the US allow the AFP to prioritize using weapons made by Russia and its partners? On the other hand, would Russia and China allow the BrahMos to be aimed at them?”

It is recalled that the US has already deployed the Typhon Missile System and NMESIS (weapons similar to BrahMos) in the country, which are believed to be stationed in Batanes and aimed at China. The US is training Filipino soldiers to operate these systems.

“The so-called modernization of the AFP is tied to the US,” said Valbuena. “The US turns the AFP into a dumping ground for outdated weapons, military vehicles, and other surplus products.”

It is also recalled that the US canceled the Philippines’ purchase of helicopters from Russia in 2021 and instead pushed the country to buy CH-47 Chinook made by the American company Boeing. The Philippines did not recover the ₱1.9 billion down payment made to Russia.