The U.S. government has donated 114 M113A2 armored vehicles to the Philippines as part of a U.S. military program for excess military equipment, Agence France-Presse reported Thursday.The Philippine army accepted 77 armored personnel carriers Wednesday and will receive the remaining batch of vehicles in January, according to a statement by the U.S. embassy in the country.
Col. Benjamin Hao, a spokesman for the Philippine army, said the donation brings the total number of the country’s armored fleet to 455 and that the military service has yet to incorporate communication tools and armament systems into the vehicles.
AFP said the Phillipine government spent $1.4 million on the transportation of the vehicles.
The donated APCs come as the Philippines continue its efforts to counter insurgent groups and Islamic militant organizations in the south, according to the report.
