Duterte tests US willingness to supply arms

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, August 23, challenged the three United States (US) Cabinet officials to a debate on America's willingness to supply weapons and military equipment to the Philippines.

Duterte made the dare in a speech in Davao City, where he read the letter he had received from US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Defense Secretary James Mattis, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Duterte revealed that the three US Cabinet officials, in the letter, expressed openness to a "future defense procurement" with the Philippines, as they emphasized to "strengthen and deepen the steadfast bonds" between the two nations.

The letter of Ross, Mattis, and Pompeo that was sent to Duterte came a week after Randall Schriver, US defense assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, warned the Philippines of the possible adverse impact of its planned acquisition of military equipment from Russia.

Schriver, in an interview in Manila, said the Philippines' plan to buy Russian weapons would not be a "helpful thing" to the US's alliance with the Philippines.

Duterte, in his latest speech, noted that he was reassured by Ross, Mattis, and Pompeo that the US has its "strongest support" for his efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"At the same time, we clearly understand your country's need for certainly when considering the selecting technology for the defense of security of the Filipino people," Duterte said during the 12th anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command, quoting three US officials' letter.

"We hope you share our view that our nation, selection of US partners for this future defense procurement, is mutually advantageous and strategically important way to strengthen and deepen the steadfast bonds between our [countries]," the President added.

Responding to the letter, Duterte said he would only be amenable to a possible weapons procurement arrangement, only if the US proves its "utter good faith" in selling its defense equipment to the Philippines.

He then challenged them to have a debate before he would be convinced to enter into such deal.

"Ngayon sabihin mo sa akin, procurement? Prove to me first that you are in utter good faith. But I do not want to communicate with them by just... Gusto ko, mamili sila. I want to meet three of them. Mamili sila ng... Hindi ako pupunta ng America. There will never be a time na pupunta ako ng America," Duterte said.

(Now you will tell me about the procurement? Prove to me first that you are in utter good faith. But I do not want to communicate with them by just... I want them to choose. I want to meet three of them. They choose... I will not go to America. There will never be a time that I will go to America.)

"Pero sabihin ko sa kanila, mukhain ko sila, 'Sige, mag-debate tayo.' Para klaro-klaro. Mahirap iyang sabihin mong we are friends. We are friends. But remember we are friends because you made us a colony years ago. Huwag mong sabihin na friends, friends," he added.

(But I will tell them, face-to-face, 'Let's have debate.' So it would be clear. It's difficult to say that we are are friends. We are friends. But remember we are friends because you made us a colony years ago. Don't tell me that we are friends.)