AFP gets P183M in weapons, equipment from US

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday received P183 million worth of weapons and equipment from the Joint US Military Assistance Group-Philippines (JUSMAG).

According to the United States Embassy in the Philippines, officials of JUSMAG delivered the equipment, which includes nine M3P .50 caliber heavy machine guns, 10 mortar tubes among others, at the Clark Air Base.

The Embassy said the delivery seeks to enhance the AFP’s counterterrorism and maritime security capabilities. 

“The United States will continue to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capacity-building efforts through joint training and key military equipment transfers,” JUSMAG chief Colonel Stephen Ma said in a statement.

“Our mutual security collaboration remains a cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.

In April, the AFP and JUSMAG discussed the management and response to the “situation” in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The Embassy said the US has provided over P48.6 billion security assistance to the country since 2015, making the Philippines the largest recipient of US military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News