Filtered By: Topstories
News

PHL receives 3,000 rifles, 3 million rounds of ammo from China


The Philippines received on Thursday 3,000 M4 rifles, three million rounds of ammunition and 90 sniper scopes from China.

Receiving the Chinese donation at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinjua represented Beijing in the simple handover ceremony.

Lorenzana said the rifles and the ammunition will be given to the Philippine National Police while the sniper scopes will go to the military.

He said the PNP is in need of firearms after the United States authorities tried to stop the former’s purchase of 26,000 firearms.

“According to the directive of the President, they will be given to the National Police. If you remember the PNP tried to buy 26,00 firearms from a dealer with the United States but it has taken them too long to deliver so we are lucky that the Chinese government provided firearms,” Lorenzana said at a press briefing after the handover.

He said the firearms will just pass through the logistics department for record purposes and it will eventually be turned over to the PNP.

The Defense chief said the donation was made to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for formality’s sake.

“The donation is to the military, military to military so it stands to reason that we should receive it first, the DND then received by the AFP chief of staff and because the president directed that they be given to the PNP then we will give it to them,” he said.

Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Año said the firearms will most likely be given to the special units of the PNP.

“Hindi naman ito ibibigay sa mga ordinaryong policemen e, ito ay ibibigay sa mga special units with special functions,” he said.

Military public information chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo earlier said the military supplies will definitely help in the firepower of government troops.

“Definitely makatutulong ito nang malaki sa ating ginagawang operation because ito ay makakatulong sa ating firepower, hindi lang of course sa Marawi but in other areas of the country where undergoing ang ating ginagawang operations,” Arevalo said.

In June, China also donated more than P370 million worth of arms and ammunition which were personally accepted by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The weapons include TY-85 7.62 mm sniper rifle, CS/LR4A high precision rifle, and CQ-A5 5.56 automatic rifle.

Zhao said they are donating firearms to the Philippines despite the territorial dispute as part of their commitment to peace and stability in the region.

“You know China has always committed to friendly and cooperative relations with the Philippines and today's delivery, handover of the arms and ammunition is another demonstration of the commitment we have,” he said.

“We're happy that with the guidance of President Duterte and President Xi Jinping, they are vigorously promoting cooperation in almost areas and one of the highlights is the good relationship that we have resumed between our two militaries,” he said.

He said the two countries are fighting terrorism together and they need to work together so that we can build a good cooperation between their militaries that will contribute to peace and stability in the region. — RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT