Philippines' potential purchase of F-16 jets on hold due to budget constraints, envoy says

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Dutch F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft accelerates after taking off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Feb 23, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Casey Rodriguez via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service - DVIDS)

MANILA  -  The Philippines' potential purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States has been put on hold due to budget constraints, Manila's ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale, valued at an estimated $5.6 billion, earlier this year in what was seen as a significant capability boost for the Philippine Air Force amid rising regional tensions. 

"Right now, I think it's on hold, mainly because … the funding is the key element of this whole purchase," Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Ambassador to the United States, told reporters. 

Romualdez said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has said there were other priorities for the Armed Forces of the Philippines ahead of such a big-ticket item.

"We'll see how it goes in the coming budget deliberations on how the AFP will spend the allotted amount for the modernisation program," he said. "But like I said, it's really the funding that is the choke point."    

In June, the Philippines has signed a 975.3 billion won ($703 million) deal for 12 FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea.    

The Philippines has stepped up military modernisation in recent years, prioritising naval and air defence assets to strengthen its capability in the South China Sea, but officials have acknowledged budget limitations on what can be done.

($1 = 1,387.21 won)

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by John Mair // REUTERS)