The United States government has donated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines more than five million rounds of ammunition worth P117.4 million ($2.2 million) as part of its counterterrorism training program.
The US Embassy in Manila said the ammunition was funded as a grant through the US Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program and will be used primarily by the Philippine Army’s Light Reaction Regiment and the AFP’s Joint Special Operations Group.
The shipments included various types of live and practice 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rounds, 12-gauge shotgun shells, .50-caliber rounds, and stun grenades.
The ammunition was delivered to Clark Air Base in two deliveries on Sept. 7 and 21.
In addition to the ammunition provided through the grant, the shipment included a Philippine Air Force purchase of more than one million rounds of ammunition through the US Foreign Military Sales program.
This brought the total to more than six million rounds.
The United States, as a longstanding friend, partner, and ally of the Philippines, vows to continue to support the AFP through both grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to assist both long-term AFP modernization goals as well as urgent counterterrorism and humanitarian aid and disaster relief requirements.
