Jordan Might Give PH Third Attack Helicopter — Duterte

16 April 2019

Jordan's AH-1 Cobra helicopter (photo : 4Aviation)

President Duterte has revealed that Jordan might give a third attack helicopter to the country but he was reluctant to use such aircraft for anti-communist insurgency operations.

“They gave us two (helicopters). I’m friends with the King of Jordan. He said he might give us a third,” the President said in the Visayan dialect during the administration campaign event in Bukidnon last Saturday.

The President met King Abdullah II of Jordan to strengthen bilateral relations during his visit to Amman last September 2018.

The donation of two Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters to beef up the Philippines’ military capability was tackled during the President’s meeting with the King. The two helicopters are expected to be delivered this July.

“They showed me the helicopter that they donated. It was shown in an exhibit there,” he said.

The President, however, refused to use foreign-donated helicopters in the government operations against armed communist rebels. He admitted that it was painful to see government troops and rebels, all Filipinos, fight and kill each other.

“I don’t want to use those helicopters against the NPAs because we are all Filipinos. It hurts me to see my soldiers and the NPAs dying because they are Filipinos. I’d prefer to fight another enemy, but not our own people,” he said.

“What will you get if you kill me? Will you replace me with (Vice President Leni) Robredo? Well that’s up to you. The NPAs, what will you get if you kill me? Does anyone know the answer?” he asked.

(Manila Bulletin)