Palace: DND to review plan to purchase Russian choppers

Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gives an update to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 21, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/file ' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/03/11/20220221-duterte-iatf-mnib14.jpg' ><figcaption>Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gives an update to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 21, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/file</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Department of National Defense (DND) will review the Philippines’ planned procurement of military helicopters from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Malacañang said on Friday.</p><p>The statement came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the multibillion-peso deal with the Russian government would still push through despite the country's denouncement of Russia’s actions on Ukraine.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/22/duterte-calls-putin-suicidal-in-russias-invasion-of-ukraine'>Duterte calls Putin 'suicidal' in Russia's invasion of Ukraine</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/22/war-benefits-no-one-ph-says-of-conflict-in-ukraine'>'War benefits no one': PH calls for end to 'unnecessary' loss of lives in Ukraine</a></li></ul><p>"The procurement of these equipment falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of National Defense, they will be reviewing this matter vis-a-vis what is happening now in Eastern Europe,” Palace acting deputy spokesperson Michel Ablan said in a press briefing.</p><p>Citing Lorenzana, the <a href='https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169414'>state media</a> this week reported that the country has acquired some P12.7 billion Russian-made Mil Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters, and a contract was signed in November. </p><p>A downpayment of an undisclosed amount has already been made, the report added. </p><p>The Philippines earlier <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/28/22/ph-explicitly-condemns-invasion-of-ukraine'>voted in favor</a> of the UN General Assembly resolution that demanded for Russia to stop its attack on Ukraine. </p><p>The Palace, meanwhile deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs questions on reports that President Rodrigo Duterte <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/22/ph-ready-to-offer-facilities-to-us-if-russia-ukraine-war-spills-to-asia'>will allow </a>US forces to use Philippine military bases if the Ukraine-Russia crisis "spills" to Asia. </p><p>“We will wait for the official statement of the DFA,” Ablan said.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=1959729' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Video from PTV</div><p> </p>

<p>"The procurement of these equipment falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of National Defense, they will be reviewing this matter vis-a-vis what is happening now in Eastern Europe,” Palace acting deputy spokesperson Michel Ablan said in a press briefing.</p><p>Citing Lorenzana, the <a href='https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169414'>state media</a> this week reported that the country has acquired some P12.7 billion Russian-made Mil Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters, and a contract was signed in November. </p><p>A downpayment of an undisclosed amount has already been made, the report added. </p><p>The Philippines earlier <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/28/22/ph-explicitly-condemns-invasion-of-ukraine'>voted in favor</a> of the UN General Assembly resolution that demanded for Russia to stop its attack on Ukraine. </p><p>The Palace, meanwhile deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs questions on reports that President Rodrigo Duterte <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/22/ph-ready-to-offer-facilities-to-us-if-russia-ukraine-war-spills-to-asia'>will allow </a>US forces to use Philippine military bases if the Ukraine-Russia crisis "spills" to Asia. </p><p>“We will wait for the official statement of the DFA,” Ablan said.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=1959729' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Video from PTV</div><p> </p>

<p>The statement came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the multibillion-peso deal with the Russian government would still push through despite the country's denouncement of Russia’s actions on Ukraine.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/22/duterte-calls-putin-suicidal-in-russias-invasion-of-ukraine'>Duterte calls Putin 'suicidal' in Russia's invasion of Ukraine</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/22/war-benefits-no-one-ph-says-of-conflict-in-ukraine'>'War benefits no one': PH calls for end to 'unnecessary' loss of lives in Ukraine</a></li></ul>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gives an update to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 21, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/file ' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/03/11/20220221-duterte-iatf-mnib14.jpg' ><figcaption>Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gives an update to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on February 21, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/file</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Department of National Defense (DND) will review the Philippines’ planned procurement of military helicopters from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Malacañang said on Friday.</p>

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said the multibillion-peso deal with the Russian government would still push through despite the country's denouncement of Russia’s actions on Ukraine.

Palace: DND to review plan to purchase Russian choppers | ABS-CBN News

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Palace: DND to review plan to purchase Russian choppers

Palace: DND to review plan to purchase Russian choppers