US Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (Photo the official website of the US Embassy in the Philippines)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has received $3.3 million (P181 million) worth of state-of-the-art equipment and vehicles from the United States government to counter terrorist attacks.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson led the turnover of the donated equipment to the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
The donation included 31 bomb suits, 37 digital scanners, 40 X-ray sources, 10 explosives ordnance disposal bomb suit batteries, 33 high-risk search techniques kits, 13 Seeker-e explosive detection kits, and seven Ford Ranger pickup trucks, which are funded under the US Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program.
“These equipment with a total value of over $3 million will enhance the capability of the PNP – Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K-9 unit to search, identify and render safe improvised explosive devices and facilitate collection of evidence to use for prosecution,” Carlson said.
PNP director for logistics Maj. Gen. Ronaldo Olay thanked the US government for the donation, which he said “will undoubtedly be a game changer in our ability to fulfill our mission to keep our communities safe from terrorism and other forms of criminality.”