PH has not received 12 AV-8B Harrier aircraft from NATO allies

No official announcements have been made by the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force or NATO regarding the alleged takeover

Claim: The Philippines received twelve AV-8B Harrier aircraft from members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to further strengthen the country’s defenses.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video with 5,235 views and 138 likes at the time of writing. It was posted on May 5 by a channel with 31,200 subscribers.

It comes down to: There have been no official announcements from reputable sources regarding the claim. Neither the Philippine Army nor the Philippine Air Force have released statements supporting the claim. There are also no announcements on the NATO website.

The AV-8B Harrier is a single-seat light attack aircraft in service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It will be retired in two years as the USMC transitions to the F-35B stealth fighter.

The Philippines and NATO: Although the Philippines is not a NATO member, the US considers the country a “major non-NATO ally.” This status grants the Philippines a number of benefits in the areas of defense, trade and security cooperation, such as the ability to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense “for the purpose of conducting joint research and development projects in defense equipment and ammunition.”

ALSO ON RAPPLER

PH-US tapes: The video was uploaded during the 2024 Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the US, which started on April 22 and ended on May 10.

The annual joint military training is intended to enhance “military cooperation and preparedness” between the two treaty allies. (Rappler Summary: PH, US troops prepare for ‘worst-case scenario’ in Balikatan exercises)

The exercises were held amid ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. Last month, China again used water cannons against Philippine ships, an act the US called “irresponsible behavior.”

Beijing has continued to assert its claim over the entire waterway, despite the 2016 arbitration award in favor of Manila. China has also insisted on the existence of a so-called gentlemen’s agreement to manage tensions in the South China Sea.

For legitimate news on Philippine military acquisitions, visit the official Facebook page: X (formerly Twitter) page and website of the Ministry of National Defense. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com

Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentor program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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