PH Receives 77 Armored Personnel Carriers from US

The Department of Defense (DND) has received 77 units of 144 armored personnel carriers from the United States on Wednesday. The said vehicles will further strengthen the country’s inferior military and to bolster the ties between the two allies.

The 77 units of M113A2 APCs arrived in Subic on Wednesday, December 9, the US embassy in Manila has announced. The additional equipment is expected to beef up the scarce logistics of the Philippine military, said to be one of the weakest in the region, as it intensifies its fight against communist insurgents and terrorists, especially in Mindanao.

Retired Admiral Samuel Locklear of US Pacific Command said defense ties between the two countries “needed to be revitalized with the transfer of military technology and know-how, and ultimately through rotational deployments of U.S. troops,” hopefully by inking a new pact next year.

In the meantime, the second batch of 37 units will be delivered on December 14, while the rest will arrive towards the end of December; a statement from the embassy said on Thursday.

“The EDA (Excess Defense Article) Program grants excess U.S. military equipment from the U.S., without cost, to qualified allied countries,” the statement read.

“The transfer is a result of a formal request made by the AFP to assist in their defense modernization efforts,” it added.

Additional reports said, the United States Military will build facilities inside the country once the EDCA is approved.

Critics are quick to react saying EDCA is unconstitutional and will only put the Philippines into deeper trouble with its neighbors, especially China.

The Aquino Administration has already appropriated billions of pesos budget to modernize the Philippine Military. A fighter squadron of 12 from South Korea is part of the project along with future submarines and several battle ships.

/Dante Ayalin/Assisted Press

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