Coast Guard gets 70 new firearms

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has started to upgrade its combat prowess with the acquisition of 70 high-powered firearms.

Rear Admiral Elson Hermogino, PCG commandant, presented to media yesterday the new Israeli-made Tavor submachine guns bought by the agency to boost its elite force’s capabilities in combating piracy and terrorism at sea.

“The weapons will beef up the PCG’s capability for maritime security and law enforcement operations,” Hermogino said in a statement.

He also revealed that the agency would pursue the purchase of P1 billion worth of weaponry later this year as already provided in its budget.

This acquisition, he added, would include heavy machine guns with automatic gyro stabilizer for PCG vessels, machine guns for small boat operations, assault and sniper rifles for the Special Operations Force and 9-mm pistols for all of its personnel. 

The Coast Guard chief said he has discussed the procurement of arms for the PCG with Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev and that a memorandum of agreement to pave the way for technical cooperation and stronger partnership between the PCG and the Russian Federal Service for Military would soon be signed.