The Department of the Interior and Local Government defended the purchase by the Philippine National Police of helicopters and other modern equipment to improve and upgrade its operational capabilities.
DILG Usec. and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the purchase of PNP choppers and other modern equipment was for improved service delivery and to modernize its capabilities.
“This is not a luxury purchase but a needed acquisition for the PNP. In fact, it’s long overdue. The use of PNP helicopters and other equipment recently acquired by the police organization is to aid in augmenting its operational capacity. Ito po ay bahagi ng modernisasyon ng ating kapulisan,” he said.
The PNP has recently purchased more helicopters and other equipment such as 37 units of medium troop carriers and 12 pickup vehicles, among others, amounting to a total of P2.88 billion to further boost its firepower and mobility assets.
Malaya added that the bell helicopter that crashed in Laguna was a command chopper used by PNP senior officials for administrative and command purposes.
He said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines also have command choppers to enable senior officials to go to far-flung areas faster and more efficiently.
Malaya said that the purchase and usage of the choppers saves time and allows PNP officials to fulfill more tasks given the heavy workload that the police organization and its officials do on a daily basis.
Also procured were 501 units of combat helmets worth P32 million; firearms such as light machine gun, basic assault rifle, pistol, and magazines; and bomb equipment such as explosive ordnance division robot, undershirt vest, night vision goggles, ballistic eyewear, handheld radio, among other assets. – DILG release
April 25, 2024
