PH, Russia meet for security talks
MANILA -- In line with the ongoing efforts to expand the country’s foreign relations, the Philippines and Russian Federation moved closer in strengthening its ties with the successful conclusion of talks between ranking national security officials in Moscow on June 21.
Heading the Philippine inter-agency delegation was National Security Adviser and Director General of the National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. and Secretary Nikolay P. Patrushev of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (SCRF).
“While much had been achieved in past years towards the enhancement of security cooperation between the security and lawenforcement agencies of both countries, more avenues were nonetheless explored, including the conduct of regular dialogues at various levels, information-sharing, and capacity-building activities. We also took the occasion to exchange views on regional and international issues,” Esperon said.
Philippine officials met with their Russian counterparts to follow through on key framework agreements reached in 2017 on security, defense, law enforcement, and intelligence exchange cooperation, particularly in the fight against violent extremism, drug-trafficking, transnational crimes, as well as other hybrid threats, including cyber-crimes, among others.
Esperon was also joined by Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta; NSC Deputy Director General Vicente Agdamag; Undersecretary Adrian Sugay of the Department of Justice; Assistant Secretary Manuel Felix of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments; Assistant Director General Restituto Santos of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; Commodore Rolando Punzalan of the Philippine Coast Guard; and Colonel Rodolfo Hernandez of the Philippine National Police.
The June 21 meeting is the third edition of the continuing NSC-SCRF consultations. The first of such consultations was held in Davao City on February 15-17 2017, followed by the talks held in Moscow on May 16-18, 2018.