Rody seeks Russian loan for arms purchase

MOSCOW – President Duterte is seeking a loan from Russia to buy firearms after the United States halted a rifle deal over his administration’s track record on summary killings.

Duterte asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for a soft loan during their meeting in the Kremlin on Tuesday, shortly before Duterte flew back to Manila to check the situation in Marawi, which was attacked by bandits with ties to the Islamic State.

“If you (Putin) can grant me a soft loan right now… The arms deal with America got canceled,” Duterte told Putin during the meeting.

Putin did not respond to the request for loan during his opening statement. It was not clear whether the Russian government approved the request as members of the media were asked to leave the venue of the meeting after the opening statements.

Last year, the US State Department stopped the sale of some 27,000 rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP) after Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin raised concern over the reported human rights violations under Duterte’s leadership.

The US government under then president Barack Obama criticized the spate of summary killings linked to Duterte’s clampdown on illegal drugs, a move that Duterte viewed as interference with the Philippines’ internal affairs.

In November, Duterte said he ordered the PNP to cancel the purchase of rifles from the US, saying the police would have to look for another source that offers cheaper and more durable firearms.

But in the same month, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Duterte allowed him to pursue the deal after informing him that the supplier, Sig Sauer, was not expecting any hindrance in the processing of licenses at the US State Department.

Duterte could not help taking a jab at western nations during his meeting with Putin, something he also did during his meeting with the Russian leader in Peru last November.

“I came here to see your place, to establish strong bilateral relationship. I have gone out of the ambit of the western influence. Nothing has happened since the occupation. I’m referring to the Americans,” Duterte said.

During the November meeting, Duterte assailed the US, a traditional ally of the Philippines, and other western nations for supposedly forcing smaller nations to join the wars they waged.

In an earlier interview, Philippine Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said Russians do not impose conditions and limitations on countries that buy firearms from them. He said this was unlike the US, which provided the Philippines with armaments that were “loaded with conditionalities.”

“I have always believed that our brave men and women in uniform should not be going into battle carrying arms attached to strings that run all the way to Washington,” the envoy said in a press conference here on Tuesday.

Duterte also told Putin he wanted to strengthen the Philippines’ economic cooperation with Russia, which is now seeking closer ties with Asian countries.

“I come to seek your friendship and to trade, establish trade and commerce with your country,” Duterte said.