President Duterte Asks Russian President Vladimir Putin For Weapons To Fight Against Terrorism
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has requested Russian
President Vladimir Putin for a soft loan for weapons which will be used by the
Philippine government in its fight against terrorism.
President Duterte made this request during his bilateral
meeting with the Russian leader at the Grand Kremlin Palace Tuesday evening
(early Wednesday morning in Manila).
It was made after President Duterte declared martial law in
Mindanao, as Islamic State-backed Maute terrorist group besieged Marawi City
and clashed with government troops.
The bilateral meeting of the two leaders was initially
scheduled on Thursday but President Duterte decided to fly back to the Philippines
early Wednesday morning.
The meeting was moved to around 10 p.m. of Tuesday here – past
3 a.m. Wednesday in Manila.
President Putin was not in Moscow on Tuesday but decided to
return to Kremlin to meet President Duterte before his trip back to Manila.
“As you probably know, I spent this day away from Moscow in
one of our regions. And that I have seized the chance to see you in person,”
President Putin said.
The Russian leader also expressed his sympathy to those
affected by the terrorist attack in Marawi City.
He also assured that the full package of bilateral documents
will be signed – a defense cooperation is included in the package of bilateral
documents.
In an interview with Department of National Defense (DND)
Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, he said Russia can help the Philippines in fighting
against terrorists, particularly preventing the ISIS to spread in the country.
“They are aggressive in fighting against ISIS,” Lorenzana
told the Philippine News Agency.
“If you look at the current events in the Middle East, they
are into heavily fighting against ISIS in Syria,” he added.
He mentioned that he and his Russian counterpart had
discussions in Moscow last month prior to the visit of the Philippines’ official
delegation this week.
“We are very concerned, the President, that it could bring
the trouble in Visayas and Metro Manila and then Luzon,” he added.
President Duterte Asks Russian President Vladimir Putin For Weapons To Fight Against Terrorism
Reviewed by Yen
on
May 24, 2017
Rating:
Post a Comment