Philippines Woos Arms Manufacturers

Voice of America ^ | September 9, 2015 | Jason Strother and Malte Kollenburg

[2ndDivisionVet]

BATAAN, PHILIPPINES—The Philippines ongoing territorial tensions with China have led it to try to modernize its military, which for years had one of the smallest budgets in Asia. The country is spending more on more advanced ships and planes, but it is also trying to entice arms manufacturers to set up shop locally.

Each day 200,000 bullets are produced at the Government Arsenal. But it is not enough to supply the Philippine Armed Forces with the ammunition it requires.

The facility’s director, Jonathan Martir, explained a plan to open a defense economic zone, a tax-free place for foreign arms manufacturers to make more and better weapons for the Philippines.

“We’re going to achieve self-reliance simply because we’re going to manufacture here in the Philippines... imagine us manufacturing high level equipment, weaponry, that we’ve never manufactured before,” he said.

Upgrading Manila's aging arsenal is just one part of the plan. Manila is also conducting joint exercises with Japanese and American forces, improving the country's ability to patrol and secure its thousands of remote islands.

Beijing has built military outposts in parts of the South China Sea, known here as the West Philippine Sea. That includes a landing strip on a once-submerged reef.

Both countries say they are trying to avoid confrontation, but Manila-based defense consultant Jose Antonio Custodio said there are no illusions about how the two-armed forces compare.

“Against a country like China and the lack of any capabilities on the Philippine side, the West Philippines Sea installations can be overrun in barely half a day,” he said.

The effort to try to make those forces more formidable is taking shape at Government Arsenal, even though some of the equipment here dates back to the Second World War.

“The sorry state of our defense industry right now, even without the threat from the South China Sea, we still have to improve our capability to manufacture our own ammunition,” Martir stated.

He added that the arsenal still needs presidential approval to allow foreign firms to make weapons here.

[dadgum]

Butuan - relatively safe in the city - not so safe in the hills (commie bastards).

Duterte (sp?) is a no nonsense hard ass. Damn shame he is retiring and not running for president.

[Big Red Badger]

Sounds like You’re living the Dream,
you give Me a little hope!
How’s the .22 availability and can you target shoot fairly easily?

[Gen.Blather]

Asymmetric warfare; mines and drones. They’ll never be able to compete in manned ships, planes and subs.

[bunkerhill7]

Zamboagans cannot own guns- ask them-coz my business partners there were held hostage by the moslem terrorists and they were not allowed to possess any guns to defend themselves. The moslems took hundreds of hostages who could not defend themselves!!!!o What planet you on? Mars?

[bunkerhill7]

neither can my business partners in Cebu, Davao and Cabadbaran own any guns. What planet you on?

[bunkerhill7]

That might be the law but no phil can buy a gun coz the corrupt local cops do not let anyone have guns there except themslves- Everyone there is afraid of the guy on the bus/jitney who has a KNIFE!!

[WVKayaker]

neither can my business partners in Cebu, Davao and Cabadbaran own any guns. What planet you on?

I guess this is a figment of the imagination...

Shop at our Davao City store:
P.B. Dionisio & Co. Guns and Ammo Davao City Store
G/F Damosa Business Center,Km. 7,
J.P. Laurel Avenue,
Brgy. Alfonso Angliongto, Davao City
Contact Nos.: (082)300-9334

LOCKNLOAD FIREARMS AND SPORTING GOODS CORP
LockNLoad is among the leading Gun Store in the Philippines all due to the prioritization of providing quality service and customer satisfaction - we value our clients. The Gun Shop is already three years strong and continues to extend its services in the long haul. It now spans several other branches in various regions here in the Philippines, mainly in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Bacolod, Butuan, Davao and other sites soon to open. Their primary branch in Las Pinas houses an Indoor Firing Range where gun enthusiasts or law enforcers are welcome to shoot. The Gun Store offers Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Rifles, Gun Smithing, Reloads, Ammunitions, Equipments, Acessories, Processing of Firearm License and Permits.

OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS

Standards and Requisites for Issuance of and Obtaining a License to Own and Possess Firearms

In order to qualify and acquire a license to own and possess a firearm or firearms and ammunition, the applicant must be: a) a Filipino citizen; b) at least twenty-one (21) years old at the time of the filing of his/her written application to own and possess a firearm or firearms; (c) has gainful work, occupation, or business or has filed an Income Tax Return (ITR) for the preceding year as proof of income, profession, business or occupation. ...

[WVKayaker]

... the corrupt local cops ...

And you know this how?

I happen to know a number of local Philippine National Policmen. I know the Major in charge of the Talomo District, and have a friend who is a retired PHP Colonel with the Honorary title of PNP General). I also know quite a few FILIPINO people who own firearms. Locally, in Davao City, there are a number of gun clubs which allow us to shoot. A foreigner can house a gun there and shoot it legally.

No, as an American citizen, I cannot own a gun here. But, I can shoot and did just that last month with a bunch of "foreigners". The PNP furnished guns and ammo for us. We were there as guests.

Do you have personal experience, or are you just barking at the moon?

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: He is credited with taking out the criminals with “death squads”!

When you logically think about, what other way is there?

[bunkerhill7]

My business partner in Cabadbaran says they all duck when they hear a gun because NONE OF THEM ARE ALLOWED BY THE LOCAL CORRUPT COPS TO OWN A GUN THERE!!!

“21) years old at the time of the filing of his/her written application to own and possess a firearm or firearms”

This stops most phils from even trying to get a gun coz you have to bribe the cops heavily to bet the permit...what planet you on? In some places you have to pay abu sayaf every effin week just to stay in business there, less buy a gun. U think A S gonna let you have a gun and pay them every week- What planet you on??

What planet you on???

[WVKayaker]

In some places you have to pay abu sayaf every effin week just to stay in business there, less buy a gun. U think A S gonna let you have a gun and pay them every week- What planet you on??

Sure... I believe you. I don't think it is me that is living on another planet.

I live in Davao City, Republic of the Philippines.

If you are corrupt, I am sure you can find a corrupt cop... Just saying'! But, corrupt cops aren't on every street corner here. My friends had to pay NO BRIBES to get licenses to CARRY, much less own guns. YMMV.

You sure seem bent on making unfounded statements. I recommend you stay away from Abu Sayef. I don't know any around here, but they are muzzle terrorists and kidnappers. Maybe you ought find another business to partner with... or are you overstating anything that may have occurred personally? I have no personal acquaintances with that kind of experience.

BYW, have you ever even been to the Philippines? The US Dept of State advises against Americans going to Zamboanga for good reason! There are plenty of other good places to hang out!

[eartrumpet]

My father in law showed me a locally made shotgun for keeping birds out of the rice fields. Being a gunsmith for many years, it scared the hell out of me. The barrel was a foot of water pipe, a breech of various plumbing fittings, and not a badly shaped wood pistol grip like a big Contender. There was also a shoebox full of fired high brass 20 GA hulls from it and most of a box of unfired. I guess it got passed around the barangay for whoever had bird problems. It worked.

My friend who lives outside Manila for a decade can’t own guns but his wife sure has plenty. He requested some empty speer 38 shot capsules for the neighborhood cobras one time.