SMALL ARMS/LIGHT WEAPONS DESTRUCTION PROJECT IN

UNCLAS MANILA 003852 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/WRA AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PREL PTER RP SUBJECT: SMALL ARMS/LIGHT WEAPONS DESTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINES REF: SECSTATE 105193 ¶1. (U) In response to reftel, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group-Philippines (JUSMAG) representatives have reached agreement with their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts that only captured/surrendered weapons will be destroyed under the Small Arms/Light Weapons Destruction Project. Furthermore, the AFP will report to JUSMAG all recoverable serial numbers of U.S.-origin weapons destroyed. If a large number of the weapons destroyed are found to be from the Military Assistance Program (MAP),the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) will be requested to account for the failure to abide by MAP-EUM security/storage obligations. The focus of this effort will be on weapons in the possession of the AFP and stored in Forward Service Support Units (FSSUs). ¶2. (U) JUSMAG representatives have stressed to their AFP counterparts the importance of fulfilling the Philippines' commitment to safeguard weapons and other military equipment provided by the United States under MAP, Foreign Military Sales, and other programs. ¶3. (U) The AFP has chosen Alloy Engineering Works to conduct weapons destruction. Alloy Engineering is a proven local Philippine contractor which performed satisfactorily during the previous destruction iterations. Alloy Engineering agrees to demilitarize 32,726 captured/surrendered weapons at a cost of approximately $147,000. JUSMAG and the Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement found Alloy Engineering to be a suitable contractor. ¶4. (U) Post recommends that destruction priority should remain with AFP until all stockpiles are exhausted. Philippine National Police stockpiles should be addressed in out-years as additional funding becomes available. KENNEY