MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Philippine National Police (PNP) is adding up to 10 more helicopters to its current inventory of the aircraft, according to PNP Chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Wednesday (Nov. 18).
鈥淢ore are arriving if I鈥檓 not mistaken eight to 10 choppers,鈥� he told reporters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, speaking in Filipino. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been bid out already. We鈥檙e just awaiting delivery,鈥� he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the delivery of the helicopters, he said,聽without elaborating on procurement details.
Sinas said the helicopters will be used by the entire PNP, not just by the elite Special Action Force (SAF).
鈥淎ctually we are changing it,鈥� he said in Filipino. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 no longer a SAF unit. We鈥檒l make it Air Group of PNP because it鈥檚 going to be a fleet already,鈥� he added.
He said the helicopters will service not only the SAF but also police regional offices. 鈥淚f you notice, when we were in Cagayan Valley. Our chopper was used to transport relief goods,鈥� he said.
TSB