Duterte OKs PNP gun deal with US

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said he is confident the procurement of the assault rifles, which the PNP has already programmed for issuance next year to field police units directly engaged in the anti-terror and anti-drug campaign, will go on smoothly as scheduled. PNP PIO/Released | By Jaime Laude via Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has given his go-signal to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to proceed with its firearms procurement from the United States.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday the President approved the deal during their trip to Malaysia last week.

“I talked to him personally during our trip to Malaysia. We reported to him that Sig Sauer has seen no hindrance (in license processing at the US State Department) and he said okay, you continue,” Dela Rosa said.

Sig Sauer is the main supplier of assault rifles and is now doing the paper work such as securing a US State Department license to have firearms delivered to the PNP.

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The US State Department had earlier declared that it was holding the processing of license for the sale of 27,000 M4 assault rifles to the PNP in response to a comment made by a US lawmaker that he would not approve the sale of the firearms due to the reported human right abuses and extrajudicial killings happening in the country.

Dela Rosa said he is confident the procurement of the assault rifles, which the PNP has already programmed for issuance next year to field police units directly engaged in the anti-terror and anti-drug campaign, will go on smoothly as scheduled.

The units include the Special Action Force, Regional Police Safety Battalions and Provincial Police Safety units.