Duterte: Philippines has ordered Russian helicopters

The Philippines has ordered helicopters from Russia, President Rodrigo Duterte has said.

In an interview on Russia's state-owned media outlet, RT, aired on Friday, Duterte said the country would buy 12 cargo helicopters as part of the military’s modernization program.

“We have placed the orders now,” Duterte said.

“I’m sure that we will have to make the downpayment and be prompt. Just because Russia is a friend, it doesn’t follow that we abscond or we do not pay our debts.”

Duterte made his second visit to Russia in October last year to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to strengthen relations.

He also said that both the Philippines and Russia have made “historic firsts” in the key strategic areas such as economic, defense, security and military technical cooperation.

More than P620 million in business deals were also signed during that visit.

“I’m sure Russia could come here and look for valuable businesses that can help Russia and we do not consider the distance as a limit in our friendship, in our desire to be a partner of Russia and the rest of the eastern countries in trade and commerce,” Duterte said in the interview.

“We do not think that the distance is on the minus side, it’s a plus side, and nothing can really be a hindrance if you really want to do it with another country.” —NB, GMA News