: amyTABLE OF CONTENTS: 02 JUNE 2012 [Weather Forecast ARMY RELATED ISSUES NPA remains a thorn Manila Times p. A-3 The communist New People’s Army (NPA) continues to make its presence felt even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claimed that the Philippines would be rid of insurgency by 2016 when the present administration ends its term.(William B. "AFP needs P75B for modernization PDIp AS ~The Armed Forces of the Philippines needs P7S billion in the next five years to upgrade its capabilities and provide the country with a “minimum credible defense posture."(Donna Pazzibugan) AFP admits planning lapses in first year of Bayanihan Daily Tribune p. 3 - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has admitted that several operational lapses it committed last year have overshadowed significant gains achieved, especially in Mindanao, during the first year of implementation of the military's internal peace and security plan (PSP) Bayanihan.(Mario M Mallar PAF to acquire more aircraft Manila Bulletin p. 9 - Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino G. dela Cruz, Philippine Air Force (PAF) commanding general, in his recent visit here in line with the PAF's. 65°. pre-anniversary celebration, announced the country’s forthcoming acquisition of new aircraft to boost and augment the PAF's current aerial capability (Phoebe Jen Indino) Search continues for missing pilots Manila Bulletin p. 3 ~The search operations for the two missing pilots aboard the sf 260TP aircraft that crashed in the waters off the coast of Bataan almost two weeks ago are continuing with both Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Philippine Navy (PN) personnel utilizing all available equipment to search all possible areas of the crash site. (Anjo Perez) Navy to recruit fresh crews Manila Bulletin p. 9 - Philippine Navy (PN), the chief guardian of the country's territorial waters, is enlisting officers to fill vacant positions and will recruit as well fresh naval crews, the head of the PN's Naval Reserve ‘Center in Western Visayas said. US expanding role in Asia Mania Bulletin p. 2 - The United States (US) plans to bolster its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region through alliances instead of new permanent bases, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said. EDITORIAL/OPINION/COMMENTARY Tough challenges to P-No ONLINE NEWS:Political prisoner Ramon Patriarca began his hunger strike on June 1. Ina statement, the political prisoner explained that he would refrain from eating in protest against the circumstances surrounding his continuing detention. Philippines urged to stop kilings, other rights abuses Bulatlat.com Several countries expressed alarm, during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines in Geneva, Switzerland May 29, ‘over the unabated extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the Philippines