PHILIPPINES EYEING INDIA ARMS DEAL
The Philippines is considering the acquisition of defense equipment and warships from India, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said this developed during a bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in New Delhi, India.
“There was a commitment, in fact, for the Philippines to purchase Indian military hardware,” Roque told a press conference in India.
Duterte and some of his officials are currently in India for his participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Commemorative Summit.
Roque said Duterte’s intent to acquire weapons from India came following Modi’s remark that his country is capable to produce military equipment.
“The Prime Minister actually said that they have expertise in ships and other military hardware,” the presidential spokesman said.
“President Duterte just manifested in the same way that he has decided to purchase weapons from China and Russia that he will also consider purchasing Indian weapons,” he added.
Roque said Duterte also expressed gratitude to Modi for India’s $500,000 donation as the Philippines rehabilitates Marawi City, which was already liberated by the Filipino troops following the May 23, 2017 siege by Islamic State-linked Maute group.
Bilateral relations
He added that the two leaders also sought to improve the military, political, economic, and business relations between the two countries.
“The meeting (between Duterte and Modi) lasted for one hour. The two leaders agreed on expanding bilateral ties on all fronts,” Roque said. “The two heads of state agreed that relations, while already very good, will even be better.”
Threats
Meanwhile, the Palace said Duterte will not cower from reported threats from terrorist group Islamic State ( IS) while in India.
“(Duterte) will not cower (from) threats from ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) nor any other terrorist groups. He has pledged to serve the Filipino people and has left the issue of his mortality to the creator,” Roque said in a statement.
Roque issued the statement following a report by an Indian news firm that Duterte, a vocal critic of IS, is a target of the terror group as he embarks on a visit to India.
Duterte, in his spontaneous speeches, has repeatedly warned against the possible retaliation of IS after the Philippine troops defeated the Maute extremist group, which laid siege to Marawi City for five months in 2017.
The New Delhi-based The Print reported on Thursday, January 25, that IS is allegedly planning to stage an attack against Duterte during India’s Republic Day Parade Friday morning, January 26, at Pravasi Baratiya Kendra, Chanakyapuri.
The report, quoting a security agency source, said there were intelligence inputs that Duterte, who is currently in India, “is coming with baggage, as he has been very vocal about wiping out IS.”
It also claimed that “the IS has its people and is planning to strike” against Duterte.