WASHINGTON - The Philippines hopes to buy fighter jets but would prioritize land-based weapons that are more affordable for defense, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Tuesday.

The Philippines is working with the US and Lockheed Martin Corp. to determine how Manila can finance the major F-16 acquisition.

“The F-16 will continue to be part of the overall plan, perhaps, in the future. But as of now, as I said, our priority is more on land-based type of defense capabilities,” Romualdez told selected journalists from Japan and the Philippines on a reporting tour funded by the US State Department.

“As I said the F-16, it's an aspiration that we've had for many, many years. There are other offers from other countries like the Gripen, which is actually made in Sweden. But there’s a question of affordability,” Romualdez said.

The US State Department announced Washington's approval of the major F-16s sale following the visit in Manila of Secretary Pete Hegseth, who announced the Trump administration's support to help modernize the AFP’s firepower and military.

Hegseth also reaffirmed the Trump administration's "iron-clad" commitment to its obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

“That's the reason why we tell our friends here in the United States that our economic prosperity and our economic security, is tied into our defense security,” Romualdez said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is conducting an overall study to determine “what is really the best in terms of the capabilities that we need,” Romualdez said. DMS