Marcos says chopper deal with Russia already terminated

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is not keen on honoring the $38-million military helicopter contract with Russia that was already cancelled by the previous administration.

Marcos was asked if he would pursue the deal following a call from Ambassador Marat Pavlov that the deal should be honored, adding that Russia has not received a formal notice of cancellation.

"I think it has already been determined. It was already determined by the previous administration that that deal will not carry through, will not go on," Marcos said on Thursday.

In August, the Department of National Defense said it is canceling its procurement of 16 Mi-17 helicopters worth P12.797 billion from Moscow due to “changes in priorities necessitated by global political developments" following Russia's attacks against Ukraine.

According to Marcos, the Philippines already has an alternative supply for the needed helicopters.

It was reported that the United States is set to extend $100 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines following the government’s cancellation of the deal.

"At so mayroon na tayong ginawa, we have already… The deal with Russia was for some heavy-lift helicopters and now we have secured an alternative supply from the United States through the manufacturer Poland --- in any case, we have --- mayroon na tayong kapalit," Marcos said.

"Unfortunately, we made a down payment that we are hoping to negotiate to get at least a percentage of that back. But the deal as it stood maybe at the beginning or in the middle of last year, has already been cancelled and we have, as I said, secured another alternative supply for those helicopters that we need," he added.

Pavlov has said the Russian contractor continues to manufacture the 16 helicopters and that Filipino pilots tasked to operate the aircraft have completed Russian training.

Pavlov said one fully assembled helicopter would have been delivered to the Philippines last June, but the Philippine government rejected it.—LDF, GMA News