PH plan to purchase US fighter jets 'on hold'
Philippine News Agency
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
September 9, 2025, 5:02 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine government has shelved its plans to acquire 20 F-16 fighter jets from the United States due to budget constraints, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Tuesday.
"The last I heard, it's been on hold, mainly because of funding," he said at the inaugural Manila Strategy Forum organized by the Center for Strategic & International Studies at Solaire Resort Entertainment City in Parañaque.
"We're still in discussion as far as that's concerned, but at the end of the day it all boils down to the money -- the availability of the funds," he added.
The Department of National Defense, he said, made it clear that Manila would focus on "other priorities at this point in time rather than the purchase of such big-ticket items."
The Philippine government previously submitted a letter of intent to procure 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter jets and four F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft from the US.
The US Department of State in April formally approved the potential foreign military sale of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets for approximately USD5.58 billion.
Meanwhile, Romualdez said the Philippines remains committed to building its land-based defense systems in a partnership with the US.
"So, we will continue to pursue that -- we're just waiting in Washington, D.C., what are the next steps that we'll be taking as far as that is concerned," he said.
Romualdez said there is a "good indication" that Manila will continue to get the funding allotted by the US Congress to pursue this capacity building.
"President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) is expected to meet with Senator (Bill) Hagerty of Tennessee in New York. This is the forefront -- this is the forefront of the modernization of the Armed Forces," he said. (PNA)
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