PHL willing to acquire other excess Japanese defense equipment

The country is open to acquire other military equipment, which may be declared surplus by Japan.

This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) Spokesman Dr. Peter Paul Galvez on Thursday.

“If they [Japanese] will have excess defense articles [in the form] of Hueys [UH-H helicopters] and C-130 cargo planes, we will be very much interested in acquiring them,” he said in Filipino.

Galvez said that it is easy for the Philippines to “absorb” these equipment as the country has the maintenance facilities, spare parts and know-how to operate these machines as the Filipino military has the same type of planes in its inventory. He earlier confirmed the DND’s interest in acquiring P-3C “Orion” maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft from Japan.

“We are interested in acquiring them [P-3Cs], especially if they become excess defense articles, as we can acquire these at a very reasonable price that is advantageous to the government,” he added.

Sources said that Japan and the Philippines are talking about the possible transfer of two to four P-3C to the Filipino military.