US firm completes repair of firearms supplied to AFP

MANILA, Philippines - US-based firearms manufacturer Remington has repaired all  defective M4 rifles supplied to the Armed Forces.

Their defective rear sights have been replaced and the firearms are now scheduled for ballistic testing prior to   distribution, military affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said yesterday.

The Army, the main beneficiary, had recommended their recall after the defective rifles were issued to troops on the front.

The military Tactical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC) found that the rifles’ targeting accuracy has been affected because the rear sights were unstable due to factory defects.

Instead of replacing the rifles, Remington changed the defective rear sights, which passed the TIAC’s criteria.

“The problem has been fixed,” a senior Army official said.

The Army is inviting members of the media to join today’s test-firing of the refurbished rifles at Camp Aguinaldo’s firing range.

A total of 24,300 M4s delivered and accepted last Aug. 13  are ready for issuance to the frontline troops, along with 19,886 pieces found defective but were repaired, Detoyato said.

The acquisition of the M4 rifles, part of the AFP Capability Upgrade Program (CUP), was aimed at providing the firepower frontline troops need in fighting internal security threats like the New People’s Army and the Abu Sayyaf.

The weapons procurement formed part of the Joint Philippine Army-Philippine Marines Corps Assault Rifle Acquisition Project amounting to P1.9 billion funded from the AFP-CUP budget.