The Department of National Defense, representing the Philippine government, has signed Monday a letter of intent (LOI) for the purchase of weapons and other equipment from China’s arms exporter, Poly Group Corporation.
This was confirmed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana saying this is separate from the USD14 million grant given to the Philippines last year.
“Yes, I signed a letter of intent with Poly Group. No specific equipment or arms yet. We’ll let the services decide what they went to acquire from China. This is not the USD14 million grant. It is a separate deal,” he said.
Signing on behalf of Poly Group Group was it’s president, Zhengao Zhang.
When asked whether it is in the interest of the Philippines to acquire Chinese-made weapons when most of the equipment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is Western made, the DND chief said it will not be a problem.
“Weapons (nowadays) are all similar. They are used the same way. They can also be tailor-made for our specific requirements. Doctrine and training is peculiar to an Army so it won’t be affected,” he said. (PNA)
