PHL to receive donated attack helicopters from Jordan in July 2019

The Philippines is expected to receive the donated two attack helicopters from Jordan by July next year, a Malacañang official said Thursday.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go said the donation of the Cobra helicopters equipped with aircraft ordnance was discussed during the bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and King Abdullah II held at the Jordanian royalty's palace in Amman.

Go said Philippine Air Force pilots have to undergo a nine-month training before they could bring the choppers to the country.

Defense Secretary Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in May that the Cobra choppers, whose features include night vision capability, will be helpful in the country's campaign against insurgency and terrorism.

King Abdullah II is a cousin of former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who Duterte had lashed out over his criticism on the Philippines’ war on drugs and for his advice for the President to go through psychiatric evaluation.

Duterte on July 31 quipped about cursing Zeid again if the donated attack helicopters from Jordan are not delivered to the Philippines. —JST, GMA News