Phl plans to lease modern planes, watercraft from US

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said yesterday the Philippines is working on a lease agreement for modern planes and naval ships with the United States within the year to improve the country’s ability to guard its territory.

“We’re looking at modern equipment that are not excess defense articles. The equipment are there but there’s nothing final yet,” Gazmin told reporters in Malacañang after he attended the oath taking of Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II and the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine government and the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army.

Gazmin said Washington gave assurance that it would study the Philippine proposal and see what equipment could be available for Manila.

“They are trying to see the available ones that we can operate because when you talk of new equipment, you talk of operational cost, with the very limited budget that we have, we will see what we can afford,” Gazmin said.

The defense chief said funds for the lease of military planes and ships would come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization funds.

He said his department would seek additional budget depending on the country’s needs.

“We want long-range aircraft patrols as well as watercraft, including those with high-caliber weapons to guard our territory,” Gazmin said.

Recently, the US assured the Philippines that it was ready to help the country “defend itself” from territorial incursions amid reports of Chinese intrusions into the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had announced the proposal to lease military equipment after his visit to Washington to meet with American officials.

The AFP had submitted a list of equipment needed to boost the country’s maritime border patrol capabilities.