By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has acquired PHP1.8 billion worth of equipment which includes helicopters, motorcycles, pistols, and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Among the new equipment are two single-engine helicopters, 107 units of patrol jeep, 349 motorcycles, thousands of pistols and machine guns, combat helmets, and radio. The PNP also acquired 48 trained dogs that could detect explosives.
PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde witnessed the blessing of the equipment in a turn-over ceremony at the National Capital Regional Police Office headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Monday.
“The PNP Capability Enhancement Program aims to provide for and enhance the basic operational requirements of every PNP unit especially the municipal and city police stations, regional public safety battalions, provincial public safety companies and national support units,” he told reporters.
He said the helicopters would go to the PNP Special Action Force to support internal security, law enforcement and public safety operations in the Visayas and Mindanao.
He said they are expecting the arrival of four more newly-procured helicopters in June and October while another three will be delivered next year.
He said they are aiming to provide a helicopter in each police regional office, which is also the “wish” of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Albayalde said the combat helmets, tactical radios, body armor, side arms, motorcycles and patrol vehicles would fill-up existing shortages among the line units.
The light machine guns would be given to the Maritime Group to arm its newly-acquired fleet of high-speed tactical watercraft for police maritime patrol operations in the coastal areas.
Albayalde said by the end of 2019, all PNP personnel would have their own issued short firearms.
The equipment would be sent to police offices within the week to be used during the mid-term polls on Monday, May 13.
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