Delivery of Duterte-promised attack choppers to take 1 or 2 years —DND

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will not receive the new attack helicopters President Rodrigo Duterte promised and mentioned before soldiers on Wednesday before a year or two, the Department of National Defense said on Thursday.

Arsenio Andolong, the public affairs chief of the DND, said the department had been discussing the procurement of the aircraft as early as October last year but added  that their procurement and delivery would take time.

“Naku, matagal tagal pa ‘yun. Usually, kapag brand new aabutin din ng taon ‘yan e. At the most siguro two years ang estimate ko. Usually ‘yun ang mga delivery time ng mga weapon systems natin,” Andolong said.

He said the original plan was to procure 23 helicopters and refurbish the old ones but this changed when Duterte took office.

“Nagbago ‘yung planning na it would be better to use the budget for that (refurbishment) to buy one brand new attack helicopter kaya naging 24. Kasi ang directive ni President Digong ayaw na ng refurbished,” Andolong said.

The President mentioned the procurement of helicopters during his visit to 26 wounded soldiers at the Army General Hospital Tuesday.

"Meron tayong acquisition na 23 attack helicopters, ‘yun suficiente na ‘yan for… ‘yung mga rebellion-rebellion,” Duterte said.

"So lahat ng bibilhin ko para sa inyo, puro bago. Wala nang purchases ang, sa panahon ko, ‘yung Armed Forces pati police na second hand. Bago lahat at gagastos tayo," he added. —NB, GMA News