Manila: The Philippines will award aircraft contracts to South Korean and Canadian companies worth $525.62m, a defence official said yesterday, boosting its capability as tension simmers in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has embarked on a five-year, P75bn modernisation programme to boost its capability to defend its maritime borders against the creeping expansion of China in the South China Sea.
Fernando Manalo, undersecretary of defence for finance, munitions, installations and materiel, said the Philippines would acquire 12 new FA-50 fighter-trainers and eight Bell 412 helicopters under a government-to-government deal.
“This is significant because we need to give our armed forces the minimum capability to perform its mission and responsibility,” Manalo said after completing negotiations with the two companies.
Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd got the contract for the fighter-trainers worth P18.9bn while Canadian Commercial Corporation, which is licensed to market Bell helicopters, promised to deliver its first craft next year.
Prosecutor in Taiwan jailed
TAIPEI: A court yesterday sentenced Taiwan’s chief prosecutor to 14 months in prison for leaking confidential information to President Ma Ying-jeou about a controversial probe into influence peddling claims last year.
Prosecutor-general Huang Shyh-ming was convicted of leaking secrets relating to the investigation late last year, which examined allegations that parliamentary speaker Wang Jin-pyng meddled in a court case implicating an opposition lawmaker, said the Taipei district court.
“The accused briefed President Ma and handed over information of an ongoing investigation which should have been kept confidential in violation of the law,” the court said in a statement.
Huang became the first prosecutor-general to be indicted and convicted in Taiwan’s history.
He can appeal against the ruling or pay a fine of $14,000 instead of serving the sentence.
Agencies
