Philippine Air Force levelling up with 10 attack helicopters

MANILA - The Philippines will acquire 10 attack helicopters starting next year in a bid to boost the capabilities of the poorly-equipped military, an air force spokesman said Wednesday.

Italy, Britain, France, Russia and South Africa are all being eyed to supply the helicopters, Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Okol said, although he declined to specify which models were being considered.

The brand new machines will upgrade the fleet of US-made MG-520 light attack helicopters that the air force has been using since the 1990s.

"What we are going to get are armed attack helicopters... that can carry more payload than the MG-520," Okol told AFP.

He declined to specify the cost of the acquisition but said the government had already allocated the required funds.

The new aircraft will be used for "internal security operations, border security and support operations", he said.

The Philippines is battling communist insurgents in rural areas throughout the archipelago, as well as Muslim extremists in the troubled southern regions.

In recent months tensions have also risen with China over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea, but Okol said the acquisition of the attack helicopters was unrelated.

The tensions with China have highlighted the weakness of the Philippine military which is one of the most poorly-equipped in the region, relying largely on surplus US equipment.

The Philippines has been refurbishing its ageing MG-520 helicopters, other military sources said.

The country has recently been stepping up its modernization efforts and plans to acquire new fighter-trainer jets and attack and transport planes by 2014, the defence secretary said earlier.

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Agence France-Presse | InterAksyon.Com | July 18, 2012 | Article Link

Manila, Rome to enhance defense ties after Philippines eyes purchase of Italian warship

The Philippines and Italy are set to further strengthen their defense partnership, Manila's Ambassador to Rome Virgilio Reyes Jr. said on Wednesday. 

The announcement came roughly two months after the Philippines' Defense Department disclosed plans of acquiring a third warship from Italy after purchasing two from the United States. 

Officials of both countries' defense departments will hold an exchange of visits to enhance their strategic defense ties, Reyes said in a statement on Wednesday. 

“[We are] committed to its effective concrete implementation,” Reyes said.

In May, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin raised the possibility that the country may acquire another warship from Italy. The Philippines has two warships, the first, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, was acquired from the US Coast Guard last year. The second may arrive in November, Gazmin said. 

Speaking at the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between both countries, Reyes also asked the Italian Ministry Foreign Affairs to sign two pending agreements--the Draft Executive Cultural Program between the Philippine and Italy and the Draft Protocol to Amend the Bilateral Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.

Manila and Rome established diplomatic ties since July 1947, a relationship that has been marked by several cooperation agreements over the past years.

In his speech, Reyes also thanked Italy's foreign ministry for allowing Filipinos to promote their own food in Italy, including mango rum liquor, and for permitting Filipino artists showcase their artworks. 

"[During] the end of June, the Philippine Tropical Fruit Business Mission to Italy had a productive visit around markets of Rome and Bergamo and [held] important exchange of discussion with the Italian fruit growers and importers in the Centro Agroalimentare di Roma (CAR)," Reyes said.

"I would like to expresse my gratitude to the government of the Italian Republic for its gracious hosting of the Filipino community in Italy with the assurance that Filipino nationals will contribute positively to the Italian society and economy," Reyes stressed.

Reyes then expressed the Philippine government’s commitment toward upholding, protecting, and promoting the rights and interests of the Filipino community in Italy. Some 131,000 Filipinos work in Italy as maids, nurses, or service workers.

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Pots de Leon | InterAksyon.com | July 11, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines, Italy reinforce strategic ties — DFA

The Philippines and Italy reaffirmed their strategic ties after a visit by a 15-member Philippine team to Rome to strengthen political and security relations between the two countries late last month.

Sent by the Department of National Defense (DND) at the invitation of the Italian Ministry of Defense, the 15-member Joint Visual Inspection (JVI) team followed up discussions on further strengthening political and security ties.

"Various calls and meetings were also conducted with relevant Italian officials. The group made a call on Brigadier General Pintus, the Commanding General of the Artillery Regiment; Colonel Scarcella, representative of the MOD; and Major Millazzo, Major Torre and Lt. Colonel Quaglierro together with Mr. Gerry of Oto Melara," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

It said the visit was conducted from June 18 to 27.

During its visit, the team visited the Italian Defense Office (MOD) as well as other command artillery and warehouses and operational exhibits.

Also, the team made a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes Jr.

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GMA News Online | July 8, 2012 | Article Link