The government will shop for military warships and weapons when President Duterte visits South Korea next week.
The President has bared the planned acquisition of military equipment as he recognized that South Korea as a “vital partner” of the Philippines particularly in the area of defense cooperation.
Duterte is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea commemorative summit from Nov. 25 to 26 to mark the 30th anniversary of the partnership. A bilateral meeting between Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been arranged on the sidelines of the regional summit.
“I hate traveling. I don’t want to travel. It gives me headache and everything, but this is important. You know, so many things at stake. One is that we are buying arms. Second is that there are many assistance on the way, coming,” Duterte said during a press conference in Malacanang Tuesday night about his upcoming visit to Korea. “Now, we are buying corvettes. How do you pronounce it? Corvette or corvey, or whatever, and buy the arms,” he added, referring to the small warships built by Korea.
He noted that the country previously acquired FA50 fighter jets from South Korea, which were reportedly used by the troops to battle lawless elements during the Marawi City siege. “Seoul is a vital partner natin. Alam mo kasi ang mga armas ngayon mahal but we can always buy. Our jet planes, ‘yung FA-50 natin galing ano ‘yun,” he added.
The Department of National Defense recently forged an agreement with a Korean shipbuilder on the acquisition of two corvettes to help modernize the Philippine Navy. The Corvette Acquisition Project is reportedly estimated at P28 billion. (Genalyn Kabiling)
