RUSSIA DONATES 5,000 KALASHNIKOV RIFLES TO PH

SANMIGUEL, BULACAN— Not to be outdone by China and the United States, Russia is donating 5,000 brand-new Kalashnikov rifles, a million rounds of ammunition, and 20 Army trucks to the Philippines’ antiterrorism efforts.

President Duterte on Wednesday disclosed Russia’s donation during a speech before Army Scout Rangers in Bulacan.

Mr. Duterte said this was part of what Russia decided to donate to the Philippines after his aborted visit to Moscow in May.

He had to cut short his trip after the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group, Abu Sayyaf and their allies rampaged across Marawi City, and tried to set up their Southeast Asian caliphate.

The fighting in the country’s only Islamic city is still raging, though authorities expect it to end soon.

“This is part of what I brought back from Russia when we went there for below 24 hours,” the President said.

He joked that the soldiers should learn Russian to use the new firearms.

China has shipped to the country for free 6,000 rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition while the US donated in June 625 firearms, including four M134D Gatling-style machine guns, and 25 combat rubber raiding craft.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that a Russian ship would dock in the country on Oct. 22 to unload the equipment, with the turnover happening soon after.

“They want to help us fight terrorism because they are also fighting terrorism in their country, and they want to help the worldwide fight against terrorism,” Lorenzana told reporters.

The President has yet to say which units would get the Kalashnikov rifles or which models would be donated. The most popular model of this gun is the AK-47 assault rifle.

The trucks would be for the Army’s use, he added.

During Mr. Duterte’s brief stay in Moscow, he met briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him for a “soft loan” to buy firearms.

“I’m having problems with the IS. I come here to seek help,” he had told Putin.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana also said that the Philippines was open to having joint military exercises with Russia.

But since there is no agreement for this yet, the Philippines could send small groups to Russia to observe military exercises, and later on, participate in these.