REQUEST FOR PM/WRA FUNDING FOR WEAPONS DESTRUCTION

UNCLAS MANILA 002963 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/WRA (ADAMS) AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PREL PTER RP SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PM/WRA FUNDING FOR WEAPONS DESTRUCTION PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES REF: A. 06MANILA3852 ¶B. EMAIL FROM PM/WRA MARK ADAMS 8/23/07 ¶1. This cable contains an action request for PM/WRA. See para 4. ¶2. The Small Arms and Light Weapons destruction program was designed to reduce and remove the armed threat posed by terrorists, insurgents, and criminals. The program is currently undertaking demilitarization, decommissioning, and destruction of 32,726 captured and surrendered weapons stored in Philippine military warehouses. However, many more weapons remain to be destroyed, including not only those stored by the military but also those held by the national police. Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group - Philippines (JUSMAG-P) representatives continue to work with Philippine military officials and a local contractor to ensure that all weapons are destroyed and disposed of properly. ¶3. Post received $150,000 for the program in FY06 and hopes to secure additional funding to expand the program in FY08. Expansion of the program would allow post to address ordnance disposal, including outdated U.S. ordnance now stored near Corregidor Island, and would help eradicate several potential threats posed by improvised explosive devices throughout the Philippines. ¶4. Action request: Post requests $300,000 in FY08 funding from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement for the continuation and expansion of the Small Arms and Light Weapons destruction program in the Philippines. Please advise if such funding is available for this purpose. KENNEY