Wala pang natatanggap na detalye ang Malacañang kaugnay sa napaulat na 20 F-16 fighter jets na inaprubahan ng Estados Unidos, upang ibenta sa Pilipinas sa halagang US$5.58 billion.
Sa ambush interview sa Palasyo, ipinaliwanag ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, posibleng inaayos pa ang mga detalye kaugnay dito.
Gayunpaman, sakali mang matuloy ang pagbebenta ng fighter jets sa bansa, gagamitin aniya ito ng Pilipinas bilang bahagi ng defensive force o pang-depensa lamang.
“That’s okay because the details will be worked out still. But that is not for any specific target or state. That is for our defensive posture.” —Bersamin
Pagbibigay diin ng kalihim, hindi ito gagamitin laban sa ano mang target o ano mang bansa.
“As far as the details are concerned, I have no awareness of them. The principle of it, the Americans would give us the material for a defensive force, defensive stance. That’s okay because the details will be worked out still. But that is not for any specific target or state. That is for our defensive posture.” —ES Bersamin
Sa press briefing naman sa Malacañang sinabi ni National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan, na sakaling matuloy ang pagbiling ito bahagi lamang ito ng nagpapatuloy na AFP Modernization Program.
“The planned procurement of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippine arsenal does not in any way harm the interest of any third party. It is not intended for any nation. It is merely part of the AFP Modernization Program.” -Malaya. | ulat ni Racquel Bayan
