Kawal Pinoy Blog: AFP, Armscor MOA to ensure firepower to every soldier

Recognizing the need to increase the capability of government forces on the field of battle, one of the world’s top firearms manufacturers has recently sealed a memorandum of agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines seeking to make firearms more affordable to its members.

The MOA was finalized and signed May of this year Arms Corporation of the Philippines via its subsidiary Armscor Shooting Center Inc. and the AFP in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and Armscor Shooting Center president Gina Angangco signed the agreement which will give active and retired members of AFP the privilege to purchase Armscor firearms in military commissary stores nationwide with a reasonable discount of 15 percent per item.

Good news

On the part of soldiers everywhere, the MOA is deemed good news particularly by those who are exposed to constant threats on the field like 9^th Infantry Division Army Staff Sergeant Montano Escano, 41.

Though wounded and outnumbered, Escano was able to live from the attack by using his skills and knowledge as an International Defensive Pistol Association shooting competitor in 22IB’s quarterly Detachment Commander’s Cup.

Although he has just retired from service, Escano will be able to replace his already rusty, yet somehow trusty, M1911A1 Cal .45 pistol that he used to defend himself and his comrades from an ambush staged by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Banuang Gurang, Donsol, Sorsogon, January 29, 2010.

Soldiers like Escano are reminders that the Philippines has military personnel that are skillful and deserving of additional privileges. These extra privileges anyway can help them perform better in the performance of their duties.

Commissaries

During the opening of the first AFP Commissary booking offices of Armscor at the main commissary and exchange (AFPCES) store in Camp Aguinaldo, it was announced by ASCI president Angangco that 1,000 units of the Caliber 45 A1 G1 Series are also available at a special discounted price of P15,000 or at a price 25 percent lower than the regular price.

The booking center is another of Armscor’s manifestation of its belief in Internal Peace and Security Plan: Bayanihan of AFP which seeks to enlist all sectors of the Philippine society in fighting the roots of insurgency and unrest.

The special discounts specified in the MOA and designated for the commissaries are in line with the AFPCES’ vision to make needed products more affordable to its members.

Armscor and AFP plan to make the discounts available to all 33 commissaries in major military camps in the Philippines in order to make the cheaper firearms more accessible to AFP personnel.

For additional information on the discount on Armscor guns, AFP personnel are advised to visit or contact the following Armscor offices:

MINDANAO – DAVAO

Unit 3A-A Bajada Plaza

J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City 8000

TEL (082) 221.0300

EMAIL armscordavao@armscor.com.ph

VISAYAS – CEBU

Suite 101 Centro Maximo Building

D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City 6000

TEL (032) 253.0531 (032) 412.6225

EMAIL armscorcebu@armscor.com.ph

LUZON – LA UNION