US donates $18-M worth of precision-guided weapons to PH

FILE: Foreign Affairs Sec. @teddyboylocsin warmly welcome US National Security Advisor @robertcobrien upon arrival at the DFA, who received arrival honors from the PH Marine Corps. (Photo: DFA Philippines @DFAPHL/Twitter)

MANILA – The United States (US) on Monday donated USD18 million worth of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) to the Philippines which would be used by the government in counter-terrorism operations.

“I’m pleased to transfer a package of precision guided missiles and munitions including 100 towed two alpha missiles, 12 ITAS and 24 MK 82s to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said during a ceremonial turnover at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

O’Brien is in Manila as part of a Southeast Asia tour that also included Vietnam.

He said the transfer underscores the US government’s “strong and enduring commitment to the critical alliance of the US and the Philippines”.

“We hope these precision-guided missiles and munitions will help the AFP protect Philippine lives in Mindanao and end the needless suffering imposed by ISIS East Asia,” he added.

DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. received the donation on behalf of the Philippine government and said the smart bombs would boost the capability of the AFP in “neutralizing identified or specific threats to national security, particularly in counter terrorism operations”.

“This is the fulfillment of a promise made by US President Donald J. Trump to President Duterte during their phone call in April. We look forward to training of the use of these weapons with the best and undisputed military power in the world and the only one in history selflessly dedicated to the freedom and independence of other countries wherever threatened in the world,” Locsin said.

Citing that the US and the Philippines share a deep interest in upholding the rule of law and the rules-based international order, O’Brien said the US welcomes the recent statements by President Rodrigo Duterte and the secretary (Locsin) at the Asean Summit and East Asia Summit where they called on all nations to respect international law in the South China Sea.

“As we approach the 70th anniversary of our mutual defense treaty next year, we celebrate the strength of our important alliance and we look forward to working hand-in-hand for generations to come. Together, the United States and the Philippines will continue to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” O’Brien said.