3 choppers acquired to boost anti-terrorism campaign –PNP

The Philippine National Police on Saturday announced that it acquired three brand new multi-role police helicopters which will further boost the PNP’s capability in the campaign against terrorism.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said the PNP Special Action Force-Air Unit (PNP-SAF) accepted the three H-125 Airbus single-engine turbine helicopters at the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City.

“These new air assets will further boost our operational capability in support of the anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaign,” Sinas said in a statement.

According to the PNP, the helicopters were from Airbus Helicopters Southeast Asia, which was procured through the funds from the General Appropriations Act 2019.

The helicopters are now at the PNP-SAF Air Unit hangar.

Sinas said this brings the PNP’s total fleet to seven H-125s, two R-22 Robinson helicopters, and a fixed-wing trainer aircraft. These are all stationed in Metro Manila.

The chief PNP said the agency is eyeing the deployment of two helicopters each in Central Visayas and southern Mindanao as well as one in northern Luzon. — DVM, GMA News