RODRIGO DUTERTE,

$234-million chopper deal cancelled

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, IS CANCELLING A $234-MILLION DEAL TO BUY CANADIAN-BUILT COMBAT HELICOPTERS AFTER THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT SAID IT WAS REVIEWING THE CONTRACT.

Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has ordered the country’s military to cancel a $234-million deal to buy Canadianbuilt combat helicopters.

Duterte said Friday that equipment bought by the military needs to be free of any restrictions since it could be used in fighting insurgents.

Duterte said in the future the Philippine military will not buy its equipment from either Canada or the U.S.

“So from here on now, I am directing the armed forces of the Philippines since most of the guns, bullets and whatever, weapons of war ... invariably could be used against the rebels and the terrorists,” he told journalists in Davao City on Friday. “Do not buy any more from Canada. Or from the United States, because there is always a condition attached.”

He added, “I am sure Canada is a bright boy. But the terrorists, ISIS, are contaminating the locals. And if I cannot use the gunships, the helicopters, then I might as well surrender this government to them.

“I do not question your logic. Your logic is your logic. My logic is mine. It’s based on the reality on the ground.”

The decision sparked a surprisingly sharp response from the Trudeau government, which only a few days earlier had been defending the deal.

“The president’s troubling comments only underscores the confusion and contradictions that have emerged recently on the intended end use of the helicopters,” International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement..

“That is precisely why I ordered a review and that process will continue.”

The Canadian Commercial Corporation, a government agency, brokered a deal to supply 16 Bell 412 helicopters to the Philippine military. The helicopters were to be built at Bell’s plant in Mirabel, Que.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said in Saguenay, Que., that he was disappointed with word of the cancelled contract, in particular for employees who he said must be worried at the news.

Couillard said the Mirabel installation was a successful operation that could continue to count on the province’s support

Human rights advocates had expressed disbelief that Canada was selling the aircraft to the Philippines considering the country’s poor human rights record and its controversial leader Duterte.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also raised concerns about extrajudicial killings while visiting the country in November, specifically those related to Duterte’s violent crackdown on illegal drugs.