President prefers brand-new planes, weapons for military

President Duterte is no longer interested in acquiring refurbished military equipment from the United States (US) following the crash of one of the helicopters bought by the government.

The President claimed that China appears to produce more quality weaponry, citing the efficiency of the

sniper rifles recently donated to the country’s Armed Forces.

“I will no longer buy second hand helicopters from the Americans because … one of the two crashed. What’s happening to these Americans? And we paid for that,” Duterte said in the Visayan dialect during his visit to government troops in Marawi City last Monday.

The President said he prefers to buy brand new equipment for the military to boost their counter-terrorism capability. He said the military goods will be sourced from two countries, without identifying them.

“For me, everything has to be brand new. All the planes and helicopters will have to be brand new. Your guns, I want just one source for it. I’m not going to mention what country it is but it’s just two — two countries,” he added.

The President, meantime, extended anew his gratitude to China for donating weapons to the troops in the battle against Islamic State-inspired militants holed up in Marawi City.

The shipment of assault and sniper rifles was delivered by China to the country last June.

“China has been very good to us, so I am grateful to them… let’s give them a round of applause,” Duterte said.

“Let’s thank them because everything that they gave us are of good quality, like the sniper’s (rifles),” he added.

Duterte then teased about a possible aircraft donation from China.

He told the troops in jest to clap hard so the video of the event would show their gratitude to China and possibly convince Beijing to donate an airplane next.

“But the pilot has to learn a little Chinese because if everything is written in Chinese, then he won’t have any idea where his plane is going,” the commander-in-chief said, eliciting laughter from the soldiers.

Government troops have battled to drive the rebels out of Marawi for more than three months. More than 800 people have been killed, including 655 militants and 145 troops, according to military figures.

The President, in his visit to the battle zone last Monday, reiterated that no quarter will be given to the enemies of the state in Marawi. He said it will be fighting to the death.

Duterte, who declared martial law in Mindanao due to the Marawi siege, earlier said he would not lift it until the defense and military authorities declare the conditions are safe.