Turkey-based firm denies supplying AFP with smuggled defense wares

THE local marketing arm of a firm based in Ankara, Turkey on Wednesday denied allegations that the crucial defense products including over 4,500 rounds of howitzer ammunition it supplied to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were smuggled.

In a statement, Murat Ünlütürk, chairman of DMC Defense which is the local marketing arm of Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation (MKEK) based in Ankara, said that “in all of MKEK’s business dealings, whether commercial or governmental, MKEK always places great value to integrity, honesty and professional ethics.”

“Also, since MKEK is a government company, its finances are transparent and are open to public, therefore, all operations are required by law to be accounted for and liquidated to the dollar,” Unluturk pointed out.

He also pointed out that all products of MKEK are manufactured under NATO standard.

“All products undergo strict quality and inspection tests which are in accordance with domestic and international NATO standards. Furthermore, all products provided to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Defense pass through several rigorous stages of the procurement process under Philippine Procurement Laws which are exemplary,” he said.

Reports earlier stated that the over 4,500 rounds of 105 mm Howitzer ammunition to the Philippine Army and 1,000 rounds of 105 ammunition to the Philippine Navy from DMC were imported without the required permits.

He said such allegations were baseless and “feeble attempts” to tarnish the good name and reputation of the MKEK, as well as the AFP.

MKEK is a wholly owned corporation of the government of Turkey and traces its roots to the Artillery Corps of the Ottoman Empire in 15th century before it was formally founded as MKEK in 1950. With its ten modern factories and over 7000 employees, MKEK supplies NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) standard arms and ammunition to the Turkish Armed Forces and exports to 50 countries worldwide.

He added that the misleading reports were from a local firm whose services were terminated by MKEK to import such goods.

He said they are already studying the possibility of filing a case against the said local firm.