MANILA,
Philippines --- The Philippine government will buy military aircraft and
equipment from Italy.
The purchase
of Italian military equipment was announced by Malacañang after President
Benigno S. Aquino III met with Italian Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola
yesterday.
The meeting
sought to forge “strong defense cooperation between the two countries,”
according to a Palace press statement.
Among the
equipment being considered for procurement are “medium lift aircraft, coast
watch system radar, multi-role combat aircraft, and long-range patrol
aircraft,” the Palace said.
Medium lift
aircraft are helicopters.
It added
that the military agreement with Italian defense suppliers seeks to boost the
Armed Forces modernization program.
The
announcement comes at the heels of a commitment from US President Barack Obama
to beef up the Philippines’ defense system.
The US
military aid package includes a radar network center and another upgraded US
coast guard cutter.
Last year,
the Philippines bought 18 basic trainer planes from an Italian company known
for designing and producing military trainers. A defense acquisition team also
traveled to Italy to shop for naval assets.
President
Aquino earlier said the government intends to buy jet fighters from Europe
after abandoning the idea of acquiring US-made F-16s.
Joining
Aquino and di Paola in the Malacañang meeting were Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and AFP Chief of Staff
Gen. Jessie Dellosa. Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari,
Diplomatic Counsellor of the Ministry Gabrielle Checchia, chief of acquisition
and logistics Gen. Gianpaolo Miniscalco and chief of Military Policy Office
Giorgio Lazio also attended the meeting.
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