Duterte warns on US arms depots

MANILA: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has accused the US of building “depots” in the Philippines to store live ammunition, warning that he would abrogate a bilateral treaty if Washington was indeed building permanent structures on Philippine soil.

“Here is my worry. They are making depots, they are unloading arms in the Philippines now, in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro and Pampanga,” he told a news conference in the presidential palace.

“I am serving notice to the armed forces of the US: Do not do it. I will not allow it,” Duterte said, citing a provision in the Visiting Forces Agreement that no permanent facilities should be built on Philippines territory.

Duterte said a depot stocked with live ammunition was a magnet for attack. Xinhua –