FORMER president and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada caused delay in implementation of the first Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)  modernization law when he diverted P5.4 billion in seed money intended for makeover of the military to wage an all-out  war against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), according to a former Cabinet member.

Rafael Alunan 3rd, who served as Interior secretary under the Ramos administration,  on Monday disclosed that the P5.4 billion was withdrawn by then-Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno in several tranches at a time when there was a  running conflict with the MNLF