New vehicles to be reconfigured for internal security, territorial defense

Some of the newly turned over armored personnel carriers will be reconfigured for internal security and territorial defense operations.

Mechanized Infantry Division chief Major General Edgar Gonzales on Thursday said some of the latest batch of armored vehicles would be converted into infantry fighting vehicles.

“This means we won’t only place .50-cal. machine guns but we could also put 25-mm automatic cannons, so they can be used for internal security and territorial defense operations,” he said at the turnover ceremony of the vehicles on Thursday.

He said these automatic canons were “more powerful and stable.”

The MID on Thursday formally acquired 114 new vehicles through the Excess Defense Articles program of the United States.

The vehicles arrived in batches last December and were tested, painted and fitted with weapons.

Gonzales couldn’t immediately say how many of these vehicles would be customized, citing it would depend on the budget.

There was also a need for the 212 engine power to be replaced with 265 horsepower.

The armored vehicles will be distributed to the field units. RC