PH military receives 10 sniper rifles from US
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 11:57:02 +0000
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received 10 sniper rifles from the United States, the US Embassy in Manila announced on Thursday.
In a statement, the US Embassy said service members of US and the Philippines unloaded and inventoried the 10 M-107 .50 caliber sniper rifles at the Camp Aguinaldo general headquarters in Quezon City.
The rifles were purchased as “part of a series of equipment transfers designed to strengthen the AFP’s ability to meet mission requirements,” the embassy said.
The US rifles arrived at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on July 11.
This was not the first transfer of arms between Washington and Manila since there had been previous handovers, including radios, battle management systems, Unmanned Aerial Systems, night vision devices, among others.
“The United States, as a longstanding friend, partner and ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the AFP through both grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to assist long-term AFP modernization goals as well as urgent counterterrorism and humanitarian aid and disaster relief requirements,” the US Embassy said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been at odds with the US for criticizing his drug campaign, said in January that Manila would no longer buy firearms or any other military equipment from Washington.
In a turnaround in June, Duterte said he would reconsider buying weapons from the US as part of his government’s “new policy.”
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) had recommended the US-made Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Blackhawk attack helicopters that would replace the Canadian Bell 412 choppers, following concerns by Canada that the transport choppers would be used for military offensives. DEMPSEY REYES
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