Duterte: PHL to get 5,000 guns from ‘friendly country’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced that the Philippines would get 5,000 firearms from a "friendly country" as he vowed to build a strong police and military before he leaves office.

“We are getting firearms somewhere. I am not at liberty to divulge it. But in the next few days, we will have about 5,000 more, a shipment coming from a friendly country," Duterte said in a speech during the launching of the second ARMSCOR Shooting Range in Davao City. 

"We will survive and we will win this pocket wars. And we will be a great nation someday,” he added.

The President did not identify the source of the firearms.

"What would it do good to us if we are a weak nation? Kaya kayanin ka lang," Duterte said.   

Last October, the Philippines received from Russia 20 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.

China, meanwhile, donated assault and sniper rifles worth P370 million, saying such grant intends to contribute to the success of the country’s battle against ISIS-related terrorists.

Duterte, however, recently ordered the cancellation of a rifle purchase from Canada after the North American country questioned the supposed purpose of using the guns against rebels.

In the same speech, Duterte broached the idea of arming military reservists and graduates of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program to fight terrorism.

“If things get worse, I will allow the mobilization and maybe purchase of the ROTC and those guys who have had military training and I will allow you to use, bear the high-caliber firearms,” he said.

“Kasi if it’s terrorism and they would do it just like in any other place in the Middle East, then that is the time we will have to fight for our survival.”

Before proceeding to the program venue, Duterte took the opportunity to fire a a few rounds inside the new shooting range. The 72-year-old President is a gun enthusiast. —NB, GMA News