(Eagle News) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a bilateral meeting on Friday, November 10, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam, where they discussed issues on terrorism, trade, as well as cooperation for further development and strengthening of ties.
The 72-year old Duterte met with the 65-year old Putin and thanked him for his timely assistance when the Philippine troops were fighting the war against IS-inspired terrorists in Marawi.
Putin was also pleased to see Duterte again.
“It’s a real pleasure Mr. President to meet you again,” the Russian leader told Duterte at the start of their meeting held at the sidelines of the APEC Summit.
“Terrorism is one of our common problems and common challenge. Following our agreement, we are ready to keep developing our relations, including in the tactical and military area,” he said.
Duterte said that he was also “very happy” to see the Russian President, whom he had once called his idol. He also relayed to him the gratitude of his country for Russia’s timely help.
“President Putin, Sir, I’m really happy to see you again, this time double the enthusiasm and gratitude of my country the Philippines,” he said.
Duterte said that the enthusiasm and gratitude of the Philippines for Russia have more than doubled because the Russian government had helped the Philippines end the Marawi crisis. This was because of the army trucks and thousands of Kalashnikov rifles, and ammunition that the Russians had sent to the country.
“I would like to convey to you the gratitude of the Filipino people, for your timely assistance especially the trucks and the arms that you sent. Because you had to replenish our supplies at the time that it was getting low. And according to our soldiers, the arms that you sent were very accurate,” Duterte told Putin.
During their talk in Vietnam, Putin recalled how Duterte had to cut short his visit to Russia last time, in May when Duterte went to Moscow for an official visit, because of the ISIS-inspired attack in Marawi City. The attack in Marawi by the Maute rebels and Abu Sayyaf bandits happened on May 23 at the start of Duterte’s five-day visit in Russia. Foreign IS terrorist fighters were also helping the Maute and the Abu Sayyaf group.
-Fight in Marawi recalled-
“While you were leaving Russia, you said you had to go back to restore law and order due to an attack by terrorists. You managed to do just that,” an impressed Putin said on Friday, Nov. 10, almost six months after he last saw Duterte in Moscow.
Duterte told Putin that he had lost many lives in the fight in Marawi, where soldiers had to confront enemy snipers and terrorists hiding in buildings.
“And it was really (an) ISIS-inspired attack in the city and they wanted to take control. So I had to declare martial law and send my troops there to quell the rebellion,” he explained to the Russian President.
“Just like in Syria, it was a new kind of war. The cover is cement, concrete and iron,” Duterte said describing the urban warfare that the Philippine troops had to deal with.
“We had to fight it out building for building,” he said.
President Duterte told the Russian leader that with the recent liberation of Marawi City, he was able to prove to everybody that the country’s armed forces and police force can protect the country and its people.
“That is my dream that before I finish my term, I want to have a strong armed forces and a strong police,” Duterte said
-Duterte: PHL to buy Russia weapons-
“I want you to know that we are buying arms from Russia this time,” he told Putin.
He recalled how the US Congress scrapped a deal on the purchase of arms for the country’s police force.
The US government in November last year chose to void an arms deal with the Philippines which was supposed to provide 26,000 assault rifles for the Philippine National Police.
US Senator Ben Cardin, a top Democrat in the US Senate’s foreign relations committee, vowed to block the transaction because of Duterte’s comments against the US and for alleged human rights violations by the Philippine government — an accusation that was challenged by Duterte.
“Your timely assistance to my country, helped us replenish our arms, ” Duterte told Putin.
Russia last month donated 20 military trucks, 5,000 units of AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifles, one million units of 1943-type cartridges with steel core bullets, and 5,000 units of steel helmets to the Philippines.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu witnessed the turnover of the weapons and trucks at the Port of Manila on October 25.
Duterte said that the weapons given by Russia were given to a special unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“In a way, you helped us turn the tide and shorten the war there (in Marawi) because of your assistance,” he told Putin.
“So again I thank you very much Mr. President and the Russian people. We will remember you,” Duterte said.
In reply, Putin told Duterte that “weapons are important” but that what was even “more important is your decisive posture and the willingness of your Armed Forces.”
He also vowed to improve cooperation with the Philippines on the defense or military sphere, as well as their economic relationship which, Putin said, is still at a “low level.”
(Eagle News Service)
