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China has offered P720-million ($14.4-million) worth of military aid to boost President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-terror and anti-drug campaign.
The financial aid from China was among the things discussed with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua when President Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met him in Malacañang on Monday night.
“They want to help us fight terrorism and drugs. Tutulungan nila si President (They will help the President). Sabi niya kay Presidente kagabi (He told the President last night), ‘I know your problems in terrorism. I know your problems on drugs so we would like to help you,’” Lorenzana told reporters.
“We were given a list of equipment to choose from. Maybe we can get small arms, fast boats or night vision goggles,” he added.
The defense secretary said they are looking into finalizing the list of equipment before yearend, while the transfer of the free items is expected by first or second quarter of 2017.
Relations between China and Philippines have started to become friendly when Duterte became President, a turnaround from their sour relations over the South China Sea dispute.
China has also offered $500-million or P25-billion worth of long-term soft loan.
“Kung kailangan pa natin ng equipment, pwede pa tayong umutang sa kanila ng soft loan (If we need more equipment, we can get a soft loan from them),” Lorenzana said, but details have yet to be discussed.
Aside from the financial aid, China has also offered to put up another drug rehabilitation center in Mindanao.
READ: China to build another mega drug rehab center in PH
A drug rehabilitation center built at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, was also funded by a Chinese tycoon. CDG/rga