Filtered By: Topstories
News

Duterte: PHL won't buy arms, military equipment from US


President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ruled out the possibility of buying arms and military hardware from the United States during his term in light of Washington's threat to sanction countries that deal with Russia.

Speaking before uniformed personnel in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, Duterte claimed the US was also against the Philippines purchasing arms from China.

"Pagka bumili ka sa China o maybe Russia, magsali ka sa embargo, you cannot trade with America. So para kang inipit doon sa ano. Eh sabi ko naman [to] your superiors and the civilian leaders, with that kind of arrangement, do not expect me to buy arms from the United States," he said.

"Masama tingnan eh na ‘yung panahon na kailangan natin ang tulong nila, hindi naman sila kung hindi armas lang, talagang inipit nila tayo tapos ang tumulong ang Russia pati China."

With the US out of the picture, Duterte said he is looking at Israel and South Korea as potential arms suppliers.

"I will not agree to buy [from the US]. Pangit tingnan. Hindi maganda. It does not sit well with the Filipino na ganunin ka tapos pasunod-sunod ka na lang. Wala naman akong galit sa kanila. Sila ‘yung nauna. And they criticized me heavily dito sa [war on] drugs," the President said.

Duterte's pronouncement came a month after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines will purchase 16 Black Hawk helicopters from Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp for $240 million, a decision influenced by US sanctions on Russian military exports.

Lorenzana said the Philippine Air Force would sign a contract early this year for the American choppers, even though the Russians offered the second lowest price.

Manila had reportedly agreed in October 2017 to P400-million purchase of 750 RPG-7B rocket propelled grenade launchers from Russia's state-owned Rosoboronexport, but the transfer had yet to be completed.

However, US President Donald Trump, who sought better ties with Moscow, reluctantly signed in August 2017 the law that imposes sanctions against any country trading with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors.

The law is meant to penalize Russia for its annexation of Crimea in 2014, support for Syria's government, and alleged meddling in the US presidential election in 2016 which Trump won. — BAP, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT