Duterte orders AFP to cancel helicopter deal with Canada

President Rodrigo Duterte TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered the cancellation of a $233-million helicopter deal with Canada following reports that Ottawa was reviewing the deal.

“I want to tell the Armed Forces to cut the deal. Huwag na ituloy [do not continue] and somehow we will look for another supplier. We respect the stand of Canada,” Duterte said in a news conference in Davao City.

Canada has raised concerns that the 16 Bell helicopters bought from Canada would be used as attack helicopter.

The Department of National Defense (DND) has said that he deal was signed with trade promotion outfit Canadian Commercial Corp last December. /jpv

RELATED STORY

DND to purchase helicopters elsewhere if Canada cancels deal