GROWING FLEET – Eight brand new Canadian Bell-412eP combat utility helicopters and two Italian AW-109E attack choppers were unveiled by the Philippine Air Force (PAF)in 2016 with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin christening with champagne one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) newest acquisitions at the Villamor Air Base grandstand in Pasay City. (John Jerome Ganzon) mb.com.ph
Because of review over human rights concern
DAVAO, Philippines: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered his defense ministry to cancel 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. AFP