Unlike Duterte’s claim US unwilling to give arms to PH, US embassy lists down military aid

President Rodrigo Duterte thanked the United States, China, and Russia in for their military assistance in Marawi City after the war.

Duterte said that most of the four planeloads of rifles used by soldiers and cops deployed in Marawi were donated by China.
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“It was only China who gave it on time and plenty,” Duterte said.

Duterte compared it to how the US allegedly just allowed the Philippines to borrow their equipment and have asked the Filipino troops to return them.

“So I said, the countries helped us. China. We needed it badly, you gave it to us. Thank you very much and President Xi Jinping. And of course the Americans just provided the — we just borrowed it, we have returned it already,” he said.

“They are not willing to give it to us unlike China,” he added.

But in a Philippine Star report, the US Embassy contradicted Duterte’s recent remarks.

“In May 2017, a major grant of 200 Glock pistols, 300 M4 carbines, 100 grenade launchers, four mini-guns and individual operator gear worth P250 million was delivered,” US Embassy press attache Molly Koscina.

Koscina added that the Marawi soldiers made use of the unmanned aerial vehicle system delivered by the US in January.
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She said, “In January 2017, the U.S. delivered a Raven tactical UAV system worth P60 million which was first tested by the AFP during Balikatan and then used in Marawi.”

The US also helped boost the Philippines’ military equipment by giving them 30 outboard motors and 25 combat rubber raiding craft. In July, they gave P1.6-billion worth of two C-208 Cessna aircraft to the Philippine Air Force. A month after, the US gave the Philippine Navy a radar system to boost their maritime surveillance capabilities.

By giving these things to the Philippines, this proved that Duterte’s claim about the US merely letting the country’s troops borrow their equipment.

Even China said that their assistance was relatively small as Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua was quoted saying that it was “not that big.”

China gave P370 million worth of military aid to the Philippines. On the other hand, the US turned over an average of P3 billion in grant funding to the military in the last five years. The grant covered weapons, training assistance and upgrades.

China gave a second batch of military assistance in October, including 3,000 unit of rifles, 3 million rounds of ammunition, and 30 sniper cones.

The US Embassy also revealed that it will provide P730 million ($14.3 million) for Task Force Bangon Marawi.

“With $3 million in Humanitarian Assistance, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is working with humanitarian organizations on the ground to deliver critical relief supplies such as safe drinking water, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, shelter materials to improve the conditions in evacuation centers and in host families, and programs to protect displaced women and children,” the US Embassy said.

Around $11.3 million will be spent on early recovery, rehabilitation, and stabilization of the besieged city. This includes the restoration of water, electricity, and healthcare, start livelihood programs, revive the economy, and improve community reconciliation to prevent the rise of violent extremism.

The USAID has provided more than just funds for Marawi, including 12,000 water containers as well as around 10,000 chlorine tablets for safe drinking water to evacuees. These were provided in response to the requests of the Departments of Health and Education. The agency also provided 6,500 desks and psycho-social support for affected students and teachers.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared the end to the fighting in Marawi City on October 23.

Sources: ( philstar.com , inquirer.net )
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