Duterte slams Canada over bungled helicopter deal

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 2018 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel in the City of Manila on March 20, 2018. Also in the photo are Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque and Department of Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 20, slammed “stupid” Canada over a $235 million chopper deal that did not proceed after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government ordered a review amid concerns that the aircraft could be used against rebels.

“Tingnan mo (Look) how stupid the Canadians are, very stupid. Pumayag sila na mapagbili. Noong ma-deliver na sabi nila (They agreed to sell, but when it was about to be delivered, they said), ‘ah but you cannot use these for military or punitive actions by the police. This is only good for evacuation and ‘yung mga (those) humanitarian… You cannot use these against your own citizens,’” Duterte said in a speech during the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

“My God, you Canadians how stupid can you get. Our citizens are joining the ISIS so we have every right to kill our citizens because we do not want to destroy the community with apathy,” he added.

The Philippine government last month signed a contract with Canada to purchase 16 combat utility choppers to be used “for the military’s internal security operations,” according to Major-General Restituto Padilla, the military’s deputy chief of staff.

However, Canada’s International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said that they signed the deal on the understanding that this would be used for search-and-rescue operations.

“When we saw that declaration… we immediately launched a review with the relevant authorities. And we will obviously review the facts and take the right decision,” Champagne told reporters according to Reuters report in February.

This decision prompted the Philippine President to abruptly cancel the deal, saying that the country would look for another supplier.

Duterte said that he respected Canada’s stand but explained that it was inevitable that the Philippine air force would use the helicopters “against the rebels and terrorists.”

“Do not buy anymore from Canada and the US because there is always a condition attached,” he said, referring to defense materiel.

“If I cannot use the gunship, the helicopter, then I might as well surrender this government to them,” he said, referring to the rebels.

The Chief Executive added that the reason why he was buying the choppers  was because he wanted to “finish them off.”

The Bell 412EPI choppers were supposed to be delivered to the country early 2019 as the soldiers prepare to step up military operations against Islamist and communist rebel.