Analyst’s take on Duterte refusal of US offer to give military hardware for PHL

GMA News resident analyst Richard Heydarian on Tuesday gave his insights on President Rodrigo Duterte's refusal of the US government's offer to give weapons and defense equipment to the Philippine military.

Duterte earlier revealed that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had written him to say that US weapons and other defense equipment were beneficial to both the Philippines and the US.

The letter even mentioned the F-16 fighter jets partnering with attack helicopters that Duterte preferred.

Duterte, however, did not seem keen on the US offer, saying he found the letter "distasteful" as he brought up anew the criticism of the US government, then under President Barack Obama, of his crackdown on illegal drugs that has claimed more than 4,400 lives since the chief executive assumed office in June 2016.

Duterte said what he needed were attack helicopters and small planes for counter-insurgency operations.

The Philippines under Duterte has forged closer ties with both China and Russia involving trade and defense cooperation. — MDM, GMA News