MANILA, Philippines – The United States on Monday, June 5, gave the Philippines a huge selection of device guns, pistols, and grenade launchers, which a local commander said would be utilized towards terrorists battling troops inside a southern city.
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The weapons, such as machine guns able of firing thousands of rounds a moment, were handed more than in a ceremony in Manila that highlighted a decade-old American counter-terrorism help program towards the Philippines really worth about $150 million.
“This gear will enhance the [Philippine Marines’] counterterrorism abilities, and help shield [troops] actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines,” a US embassy statement said. Philippine Marines chief Major General Emmanuel Salamat stated at the ceremony troops would use the weapons within the ongoing fight towards terrorists in the southern city of Marawi. Terrorists traveling black Islamic Condition (ISIS) group flags rampaged via Marawi almost two weeks in the past, triggering clashes with troops and police that have still left at least 178 individuals lifeless. In response towards the violence, President Rodrigo Duterte rapidly declared martial law within the southern region of Mindanao to quell what he said was a fast-growing threat from ISIS there. The Philippines and the United states of america have for decades been near allies, and they’re bound by a 1951 mutual defense treaty to protect each other if attacked.
The United States is the Philippines’ greatest provider of army hardware and arms. However Duterte, who took office last year, has sought to loosen the Philippines’ ties with the United states of america whilst forging nearer relations with China and Russia. Duterte has known as for the withdrawal of american troops from his country while cutting down joint military exercises in reaction to US criticism of his deadly war on drugs. He has looked to China and Russia as new sources of weapons, and complained concerning the high quality of “secondhand” American military components.
“I won’t take anymore army gear that’s secondhand. Those the Americans are giving, I do not want that any longer,” Duterte stated last Friday, June two. The equipment turned over on Monday was all new, in accordance to US officers in the ceremony. It included four M134D Gatling-style device guns, that are capable of firing a large number of rounds a moment, as well as three hundred M4 assault rifles and 100 grenade launchers.
[source] – Rappler
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