In a statement, the US embassy said the material delivery consisted of thousands of rockets and 1,040 rocket motors comprising part of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the US and the Philippines. Under the MLSA, the Philippine military gets select munitions and equipment from U.S. military stock in an accelerated process reserved for allies and close partners of the US.
“Officials from the (JUSMAG) supervised the turn-over rites held at Air Force City 600th Air Base Wing Haribon Hangar,” the US embassy said.
The shipment arrived at the Haribon air force complex here on board a US Air Force cargo plane.
A source from the PAF, who asked not to be named for lack of authority to divulge information, said the rockets could be used for counter-terrorism operations, particularly in wartorn Marawi City.
The US embassy statement said “the timely transfers greatly enhance the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) counter terrorism efforts. These are part of a series of upcoming transfers from the U.S. military to multiple branches of the AFP through both MLSA and the security assistance program.”
Early this year, the US had also donated military assault rifles and other high-powered firearms for use in Marawi City.
JUSMAG officials recently turned over weapons and equipment that included 300 M4 carbines, 200 Glock 21 pistols, 4 M134D Gatling-style machine guns, and 100 M203 grenade launchers.
The US Embassy said more military equipment would be turned over to AFP, including 250 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 1,000 M203 grenade launchers to the Philippine Army through the security assistance program.
