PNP using all Chinese donated firearms, official says

September 15, 2017

All weapons, which China donated to the Philippines, went to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and they were not used in the fighting in Marawi, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Friday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, the defense chief said the Armed Forces of the Philippines did not get anything from Chinese donation.

"Their donation of firearms and ammunition, especially the M-16’s, all went to the PNP. You know, PNP is buying long firearms for their policemen, so we gave all the (weapons) to them," he said.

Asked if the quality of the firearms was the reason for giving all of it to the PNP, Lorezana said it was the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte because the PNP needs long arms.

"They’re good...we have also tested some before we gave the (firearms) to them. And the verdict is they are good firearms. Also the ammunition that they gave us," he said.

China turned over last June assault and sniper rifles and almost 6 million pieces of ammunition to the Philippines. The weapons were initially planned to be used in Marawi. Celerina Monte/DMS