MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines has received five million rounds of ammunition worth P117.4 million from the United States government.
The grant, funded through the US counterterrorism Train and Equip Program, will be used for counterterrorism training, the US Embassy said in a statement.
Related Stories
The donation, which was delivered to Clark Air Base this month, included various types of live and practice 5.56 mm and 7.62 rounds, 12-gauge shotgun shells, .50-caliber rounds and stun grenades.
The Philippine Army's Light Reaction Regiment and the AFP's Joint Special Operations Group will use the ammunition.
Aside from the ammunition, Washington also shipped more than 1 million rounds of ammunition, which the Air Force bought from the US foreign military sales program. This brings the total ammunition to more than 6 million rounds.
"The United States, as a longstanding friend, partner, and ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the AFP through both grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to assist both long-term AFP modernization goals as wella s urgent counterterrorism and humanitarian aid and disaster relief requirements," the US Embassy said in a media release.
Just last week, the top US officials affirmed the longstanding defense relationship between Manila and Washington.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
In a readout released September 18, the Pentagon said Lorenzana and Mattis discussed defense issues including their "commitment to fighting terrorism and reaffirmed US military advisory support to assist the Philippines in combatting ISIS and other violent extremist networks."
Lorenzana and Pompeo, meanwhile, reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
"Secretary reiterated the readiness of the United States to continue our strong support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray