PNP buys 10 new choppers

DAVAO CITY--The Philippine National Police (PNP) has acquired 10 new helicopters to further enhance its crime-fighting capability, an official said on Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP deputy chief for operations, said

the new helicopters worth PHP1.75 billion will be the police’s first active air assets since 2009.

Gamboa said the new air assets consist of two training choppers costing PHP90 million each, seven single-engine units costing PHP250 million each, and a twin-engine unit costing PHP450 million.

Gamboa said the two training helicopters will arrive in September this year and another two will be arriving in November. The remaining helicopters will be delivered sometime in June next year.

“I will be flying to France next week to test the helicopters,” Gamboa added.

He said two helicopters will be assigned in the National Capital Region, two in the Visayas, and two in Mindanao.

Gamboa said lauded the government for “prioritizing the needs of the policemen by giving more than enough capital outlay to purchase various equipment.”

“When PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) was not yet President, the PNP only got PHP2 billion budget for the entire year. For 2017-2019, the PNP was already given PHP26 billion budget,” he said.

The official said the helicopters were purchased in the United States, Canada, and France. (PNA)