Philippine president cancels US$235 million Bell helicopter contract with Canada

DAVAO, Philippines: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday abruptly cancelled a US$235 million contract to buy 16 helicopters from Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government ordered a review over human rights concerns.

“I want to tell the armed forces to cut the deal. Do not proceed anymore, and somehow we will look for another supplier,” he said of the deal for 16 Bell 412EPI utility helicopters announced by the two governments this week.

Ottawa said Thursday that the deal was under review due to concerns over the human rights record of Duterte, the subject of a complaint in the International Criminal Court over the alleged ‘mass murder’ of thousands of Filipino drug suspects.

Bell Helicopter said in an announcement of the deal that the aircraft were intended ‘for a variety of missions such as disaster relief, search and rescue, passenger transport and utility transport’.

However Manila said they would also be used for ‘anti-terrorism’ operations, including to evacuate soldiers wounded fighting insurgents.

Philippine troops are battling militants in the Muslim south and communist guerrillas in other parts of the mainly Catholic Asian nation.

Duterte said Friday he respected Canada’s stand but added it was unavoidable that the Philippine air force would used the choppers ‘against the rebels and terrorists’.

“Do not buy anymore from Canada and the US because there is always a condition attached,” he said, adding that he was referring to defence material.

“If I cannot use the gunship, the helicopter, then I might as well surrender this government to them,” he said, referring to the rebels.

“The reason I’m buying helicopters is because I want to finish them off,” Duterte added.