Manila, Sept. 9 -- 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.

"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 pu...