Volume 14 • No. 4 • February 16 - 28, 2018 Publication Mailing Account #41721512
Sharon Cuneta
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Helicopter deal grounded
Photo from bellhelicopter.com International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne confirmed on Tuesday, February 13, that the Philippine government has formally cancelled a $292 million deal to buy 16 Canadianmade Bell 412EPI helicopters. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cancellation in retaliation for the Canadian government’s decision to review the deal and the intended use of the helicopters, which were to be built at Bell’s plant in Mirabel, Quebec. Canada decided to review the deal when human rights advocates raised concerns that the helicopters might be used against Philippine civilians after Brigadier-General Restituto
Padilla, told journalists that the aircraft “will be used for the military’s internal security operations.” In light of a possible Canadian review, Philippine Secretary of Defence, Delfin Lorenzana, clarified on February 9 that the helicopters, “will primarily be used for the transportation of personnel and supplies, ferrying wounded and injured soldiers, and the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. As its designation ‘Combat Utility Helicopter of CUH’ connotes,” he said, “the Bell CUH 412 is a utility helicopter and, contrary to what some parties mistakenly believe, its mission is to save lives.”
However, President Duterte later contradicted his Secretary of Defence saying, “I am sure Canada is a bright boy, but the terrorists, ISIS, are contaminating the locals, and if I cannot use the gunships, the helicopters, then I might as well surrender this government to them.” In response, International Trade Minister Champaign said in a statement, “The president’s troubling comments only underscore the confusion and contradictions that have emerged recently on the intended end use of the helicopters… That is precisely why I ordered a review and that process will continue.” Duterte, not known for his See HELICOPTER p20