The United States government has delivered two new aircraft units to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine Air Force during a transfer ceremony at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Thursday (July 27).
US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim was joined by Deputy Commander, Pacific Command, Lt. Gen. Bryan Fenton, when he presented to Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana the two new units of Cessna 208B aircraft worth P 1.67 billion during the turnover ceremony.
Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen Eduardo Año and Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, PAF commanding general, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and received the military hardware donation from Ambassador Kim, Lt. Gen. Fenton and representatives from the US Embassy.
Fallorina said the aircraft donation was made possible through the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and the US National Defense Authorization Act Building Partnership Capacity Program.
In a statement released by the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Kim said over the last five years, the U.S. government has allocated some P 15 Billion of grants in-aid program fund providing the AFP with modern capacity in terms of upgraded equipment and personnel training.
“The equipment transfers, training, and continued bilateral exercises demonstrate the commitment of the United States to work with the Philippines in building capabilities towards eradicating global terror networks,” the Embassy statement said.
Since 2007, representatives of the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) in the Philippines have programmed and delivered more than P 7.4 billion worth of military equipment to the AFP to enhance its counterterrorism capability, it added.
The statement also said that prior to the donation, the AFP has procured small-arms weapons, maritime assault boats, vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, and personal protective equipment as part of the U.S. government’s security assistance programs.
The PAF’s 300th Air Intelligence and Security Group (300 AISG), based out of Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City will operate the two new C-208B aircraft.
The 300 AISG is the leading unit for air intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance operations for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The statement said the Cessna 208B aircraft will enhance the PAF’s counterterrorism capabilities, and help protect AFP members actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in Southern Philippines, including Marawi.
Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and communications equipment, the aircrafts will significantly enhance the ability of the AFP to locate terrorist groups operating in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, the statement disclosed.
The Embassy also said that “the United States, as a steadfast ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the AFP through both grant assistance and expeditious sales of arms and munitions to support both long-term AFP modernization goals and urgent counterterrorism requirements.”