U.S. gives P807-million surveillance system to Philippines

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

U.S. gives P807-million surveillance system to Philippines
'We can use this for surveying areas devastated by typhoons, before and after, so that we can assess the damage,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

MANILA, Philippines – The United States gave the Philippines an P807-million ($15-million) surveillance and reconnaissance system to help the Southeast Asian country monitor its waters, fight terrorism, extend humanitarian aid, and respond to disasters.  

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim turned over this Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response (SABIR) system to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 14.

“We have great respect for the Armed Forces of the Philippines so we wanna do our part as friends, partners, allies,” Kim said in an interview with reporters. 

“We can use this for surveying areas devastated by typhoons, before and after, so that we can assess the damage,” Lorenzana added, as monsoon rains pound the Philippines, affecting nearly 700,000 Filipinos as of Tuesday.

The US embassy described the SABIR system as “a bolt-on avionics module for the C-130 Hercules aircraft.” It said the system “upgrades the aircraft with advanced command and control, communications, computer, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities without sacrificing the aircraft’s primary function as a cargo plane.”

The US provided the system to the Philippine Air Force through the Maritime Security Initiative funding, “a US initiative to build the maritime capacity of Southeast Asian nations.” 

Complex ties

This is the latest in the complex ties between Manila and Washington. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lambasts the US for supposedly interfering in his anti-drug campaign, but the President’s men – including Lorenzana, a former Philippine defense attaché to the US – continue working with Washington on the ground. 

Just last August 6, Lorenzana announced that the US is transferring 4 OV-10B planes to the Philippines to help in counterterrorism. In May, Lorenzana joined Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, among others, in meeting then US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris Jr in Hawaii.  

At the center of it all is Kim, a seasoned diplomat and an expert in dealing with the likes of North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un. The successor of Philip Goldberg whom Duterte detested, Kim has managed to warm ties with the Filipino firebrand who once threatened to cut ties with Washington

Questions persist, however, if the US is willing to defend the Philippines in case war erupts in the West Philippine Sea. On counterterrorism, Duterte also asked in May, “Is America ready to die for us?” – Rappler.com

P53.48 = $1

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com