Defective Army M4 rifles corrected, ready for re-issuance – AFP

THE Remington 5.56mm M4 rifles intended for distribution to the Philippine Army last year were recalled for defects and have been corrected, the military said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Colonel Noel Detoyato said on Tuesday that 44,198 rifles had problems on the rear sight.

“The Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC) saw defects on the rear sight. This is not about the procedure in the procurement or the payment but it is the lapse of the supplier,” he said.

Ceremonial distribution of the rifles led by then AFP chief General Gregorio Catapang were held at various military camps last year but the rifles were recalled last September.

President Benigno Aquino III also participated in the ceremonial distribution of the rifles last year.

Distribution of the rifles have been halted since then.

“It’s moving and loose,” Detoyato said of the rear sight of the rifles.

As of July 30, all the rifles have been “corrected and accepted.” The 24,300 rifles are already for re-issuance while the second batch of 19,886 rifles have yet to undergo ballistic tests.

The rifles were formally accepted by the TIAC last August 13, Detoyato said, adding that these rifles are stored at Camp Aguinaldo.

The Philippine Marines also received 5,000 M4 rifles but these were not recalled as it did not have a rear sight and did not need correction, the public affairs chief said.

The M4 rifles were intended to replace the early models M16 rifles. Each firearm costs about P38,000. About 50,000 units delivered to the AFP are worth about P1.4 billion.