US turns over rifles, counterterrorism equipment to Marines

MANILA, Philippines — The Joint United States Military Assistance Group on Monday transferred military equipment to the Philippine Marine Corps to upgrade its counterterrorism capabilities.

 

According to a release from the US Embassy, delivery of the equipment under the US government's Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program began in May. 

 

Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, formally received the equipment at a ceremony at the Marines headquarters in Taguig City on Monday.

 

The equipment, which the US Embassy said "will enhance the PMC’s counterterrorism capabilities, and help protect Philippine Marines actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines," consists of:

 

 

These were delivered to Clark Air Base in Pampanga on May 18-22.

 

JUSMAG also delivered 25 new Combat Rubber Raiding Craft to the Marines on May 30.

 

"The PMC’s Inshore Boat Battalion and Marine Special Operations Group have already employed previous U.S. Counterterrorism Train and Equip gear in ongoing combat operations in the southern Philippines," the embassy said.

 

The latest batch is part of P7.3 billion worth of weapons and equipment that JUSMAG has delivered and programmed for the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 2007, the embassy said.

 

"Over the last five years, the US government has allocated P15 billion of grant funding to provide the AFP with equipment, including corresponding upgrades and training," it said, adding the equipment transfers as well as joint training and exercises "demonstrate the commitment of the United States to work with the Philippines towards building safer communities and eradicating global terror networks."

 

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The AFP has also procured guns, water craft, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and protective equipment through programs like the US Foreign Military Sales system, the embassy said.

 

A shift to an independent foreign policy under the Duterte administration, which has seen the Philippines pursue better relations with non-traditional allies like Russia and China, has meant the AFP may opt to buy more military equipment from other countries. President Rodrigo Duterte has told troops that the Philippines will no longer accept second-hand equipment from the US.

 

The AFP has procured excess military equipment from the US in the past. For example, the Navy's Del Pilar class of frigates consist of three former US Coast Guard cutters.

 

The Philippines has also bought equipment from other countries even before the Duterte presidency. The Air Force's KAI FA-50 fighter trainers were bought from South Korea and the Navy's newest landing docks — BRP Tarlac and sister ship BRP Davao del Sur — are from Indonesia.