President Rodrigo Duterte has announced on Sunday, June 3, that the government is keen on purchasing helicopters from South Korea.
The Philippine government is likewise set to buy new 5A-50 fighter jets from the East Asian country, as stated by Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul Hernandez.
The announcement to purchase new helicopters comes after the Philippine government’s decision to cancel its $233-million helicopter deal with Canada.
The president, speaking in front of members of the Filipino community in South Korea during his three-day official visit there, lambasted the Canadian government for allegedly setting certain conditions regarding the deal.
“Sabi nila mag-deliver kami ng Bell helicopters pero you cannot use it against your own citizens. So anong gamitan ko niyan? Para evacuation, mga wounded, air-ambulance,” Duterte said.
“Sabi ko look, and Canada is listening, my citizens are joining the New People’s Army and they are fighting the government and killing my soldiers and my policemen. It is a dirty war and people are dying. ‘Yung iba naman ang mga kapatid kong Moro lumipat doon sa terorista,” he added.
The Philippines and Canada inked the helicopter deal back in February. A day after the deal was signed, the Canadian government ordered for a review of the agreement, following a statement from PHilippine Major-General Restituto Padilla that the helicopters would be used in operations against communist and Islamist rebel groups.
Canadian authorities expressed concern that the helicopters would be used for non-combat operations.
