50,629 AFP US-bought assault rifles defective

There are 50,629 pieces of M4 assault rifles in the arsenal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines  that are defective and could not be used by soldiers, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Photo by Manila Standard

United States-based Remington Outdoor Company supplied the rifles valued at P1.9 billion, but has yet to replace the defective weapons.

27,000 pieces of M-4 rifles were handed over  to the Philippine Army  and Marines  in ceremonies attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III at  Camp Aguinaldo in 2015.

The military’s acceptance committee rejected the rifles due to defective sights and barrel grooves, said Col. Noel Detoyato,  AFP  public affairs chief.


“The supplier  (Remington) has  to correct this  before the technical inspection and  acceptance committee (TIAC) will give the go signal for us to accept,” Detoyato added.
Of the  50,529 M4 rifles, at least  44,186 rifles were set aside for the  Army and another 6,443 for the Marines.  

The M-4  rifles to the AFP  for P38,402  a piece by Remington under the Joint  Army-Marine Corps. Assault Rifles Acquisition Project.

The military said  it saved P1.2 billion  from the deal.

SOURCE: Manila Standard Today

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