News Story: Philippines, Russia enhance defence cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected to visit the Philippines to sign a cooperation deal in bilateral defence industry, said Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin on August 22.

Speaking with reporters, Fomin affirmed that the deal has been discussed. The two countries currently have no cooperation agreement on the defence industry. Meanwhile, the Philippines is struggling to buy new weapons from the US.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Report: Turning Away From US, Philippines Plans to Buy Russian Weapons This Year

The Philippines intends to buy small arms from Russia before the end of the year and plans to discuss the details in Moscow, Defense Undersecretary Raymundo DV Elefante told Sputnik on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The news comes amid a political rift between the Philippines and the US, its traditional supplier of weapons.

"In Moscow we will discuss in detail what [small arms] we will be buying by the end of the this year. We already have budget intended for that," Elefante said on the sidelines of the Army-2017 expo.

The official added that the representatives of the Southeast Asian nation would hold a number of meetings with the Russian officials on the issue.

News Report: Philippines Welcomes Russian Navy Ship Visits, But No Discussions of Bases' Use

Russian warships are welcome in the Philippines but there have been no discussions of hosting Russian troops at its bases, Ambassador of the Philippines in Moscow Carlos Sorreta told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The envoy stressed that "there was absolutely no discussion" of the Russian use of Philippine military bases.

"What we have discussed are ship visits, for Russian ships to visit the Philippines often," Sorreta said in an interview published Monday.

On January 2-7, 2017, a Russian Pacific Fleet flotilla, including the Admiral Tributs large anti-submarine ship and the Boris Butoma tanker, made a friendly visit to the Manila port. The high point of the visit was Duterte’s tour of the Admiral Tributs.

The Russian missile cruiser Varyag and sea tanker Pechenga visited Manila on April 20-24, 2017. Duterte went aboard the Varyag. The leader was also informed about the main characteristics of the battleship, its weapons and combat capabilities and was introduced to the life of the Pacific sailors onboard.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: Philippines Eyes Russia-Made Attack Helicopters, Smart Weapons - Ambassador

The Philippines is interested in purchasing Russian-made attack helicopters and smart weapons, Ambassador of the Philippines in Moscow Carlos Sorreta told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — He added that Manila was looking into procuring arms "that can be carried by soldiers."

"We are also looking at the possibility of helicopters. Attack helicopters and attack smart weapons," Sorreta said in an interview published Monday.

The Philippines looks to purchase a portion of Russian weapons directly and take advantage of loans for more advanced arms, Sorreta added.

"We have a budget to buy certain items immediately. For the bigger items Russia has offered a system of loans, very good loan [terms]," Sorreta said in an interview published Monday.

News Story: ‘Mindanao strife increases Philippines desire to deepen security, defense’

By Pia Lee-Brago

MANILA, Philippines - For Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, developments in Mindanao following the Maute terror group’s attack in Marawi City only strengthen the Philippines’ desire to deepen bilateral engagement in security and defense, especially in terms of intelligence-sharing, in order to combat terrorism.

Cayetano met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow for the first time on May 25, following his appointment as the country’s top envoy, to discuss opportunities to strengthen and deepen the Philippine-Russian relations. This was after President Duterte’s decision to cut short his official visit to Russia due to the security situation in Mindanao.

Cayetano conveyed the President’s deep gratitude for the flexibility and statesmanship of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had to reorganize his schedule to meet with Duterte just before the latter flew out of Moscow in the evening of May 23.

Lavrov stressed that the Russian government completely understands the decision and that Duterte’s official visit has laid the foundation for a stable relationship between the two nations.

During the working lunch hosted by Lavrov for Cayetano, the two exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: US backs Philippines fight vs IS; Trump visit on

By Helen Flores

MANILA, Philippines - The United States has voiced its support for the Philippines’ counterterrorism efforts and condemned the violence perpetrated by the Maute group in Marawi City.

“These cowardly terrorists killed Philippine law enforcement officials and endangered the lives of innocent citizens,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement before the weekend.

“The US is a proud ally of the Philippines and we will continue to work with the Philippines to address shared threats to the peace and security of our countries,” he said.

Malacañang welcomed Spicer’s statement as well as Russia’s voicing a similar position on the ongoing campaign against the Maute in Marawi City.

In a related development, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced its programs in Mindanao would continue despite the region’s being placed under martial law.

“We have no indication that there is any change in programs… I at least do not know of any plans to change anything. That’s my knowledge. I can’t tell you much more than that. To the best of my knowledge nothing has changed,” US Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski told reporters on Thursday.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: US Destroyer in S China Sea Not the Last Episode in Washington-Beijing Standoff

China's Artificial Island built on Mischief Reef
(Click Image to Enlarge)

The USS Dewey, a United States Navy guided-missile destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea designed to challenge Beijing’s maritime claims, media reported Thursday, citing unnamed officials.

The ship sailed around Mischief Reef, in the Spratly Island chain. The reef was seized by China from the Philippines in 1995. In 1995, China launched large-scale construction works on the Mischief Reef, turning it from a water-covered coral island into an artificial islet.

Currently, the islet houses four large hangars for bombers, 24 small hangars for jet fighters, four anti-aircraft systems, two radars, a cement factory and piers.

The Mischief Reef is located less than 150 kilometers from Philippines-controlled Palawan Island and is part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone. However, Beijing claims that the reef is China’s territory with 12-mile territorial waters.

News Story: Philippines, Russia vow to help maintain regional peace, development

By Alexis Romero

MOSCOW – The Philippines and Russia have vowed to contribute to efforts to maintain peace and development in Asia Pacific as Moscow seeks closer ties with countries in the region.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Russia President Vladimir Putin have agreed to work together to promote cooperation in the region and to create an environment conducive for growth.

“The Parties reiterated their readiness to further enhance cooperation in the Asia Pacific region and on the international arena on the whole aimed at the creation of favorable conditions for economic growth of both States and contributing to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region,” the two leaders said in a joint statement on Duterte’s visit here.

Duterte was forced to cut short his four-day official trip here after terrorists from the Maute group attacked parts of Marawi and held hostage several civilians. 

He was supposed to stay here until May 26 but left for the Philippines two days earlier. 

Despite Duterte’s decision, the signing of several cooperation agreements, including those on security and trade, pushed through to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

Duterte and Putin cited the importance of sustaining efforts to shape a security architecture in the Asia Pacific region that is “open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based in accordance with international law, including the principle of equality.”

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Russia asks Philippines to submit shopping list of defense equipment

By Alexis Romero

MOSCOW – Russia has asked the Philippines to submit a shopping list of defense equipment after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide him with a loan to buy firearms.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said the Russian government was willing to “do all efforts” to accommodate Duterte’s request.

“The response of the Russian Federation through President (Vladimir) Putin was very, very generous. So they said, well, we have the framework in place through our agreements to cooperate,” Cayetano said in a press briefing Wednesday night here.

“They have showed us what is available to us. I’m not at liberty now to discuss that…but they are awaiting our proposals,” he added.

While there was no decision yet on the loan being sought by the Philippines, Cayetano said Russia has provided help to countries that it considers as friends.

“It’s nothing new for the Russian Federation to lend a helping hand to countries that are their friends,” the Foreign Affairs chief said.

Duterte asked Putin for a soft loan during their bilateral meeting in Kremlin last Tuesday, hours before the Philippine leader left for Manila. Duterte said he needed money to buy firearms as the Philippines’ rifle deal with the US had been scrapped.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Duterte Asks Putin for 'Help and Support in Fight Against Daesh'

The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin to expand partnership and ask for assistance in arms procurement. Sputnik Radio spoke with expert Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky in an interview about how Russia should react to such a request.

According to Duterte, the Philippines needs modern weaponry to fight Daesh and expressed hope that Moscow would assist his country in obtaining arms.

“Our country needs modern weapons, we had certain orders in the US, but currently the situation is not very smooth and in order to fight Daesh divisions and its individual factions, we need modern weapons. I have come to gain your support and ask for your help,” Duterte said.

In addition, the leader of the Philippines said that the two countries should develop trade relations. “We need to develop trade exchange,” he said.

The Russian president in turn noted that Russia and the Philippines have many joint projects, including in terms of military-technical cooperation.

News Story: Philippines' Duterte asks Putin for arms support

MOSCOW, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for arms to fight Islamic militants in the Asian country.

"Our country needs modern weapons to fight against ISIS. We had certain orders in the U.S., however, the situation is not very good now. I came to Moscow to ask for your help and support," the Kremlin quoted Duterte as telling Putin in a meeting on Tuesday.

Duterte stressed that Russia is a reliable partner, and he offered to continue their friendship.

"We need to improve trade exchange between the two countries," the Philippine leader said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Duterte asks Putin for a loan to purchase firearms

By Alexis Romero

MOSCOW — President Rodrigo 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 human rights.

Duterte asked Russia President Vladimir Putin for a loan during their meeting in Kremlin on Tuesday hours before the Philippine leader flew 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 after Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin had raised concerns over the alleged human rights violations under the Duterte administration.

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

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: No Philippines-Russia security alliance, but closer economic ties

By Alexis Romero and Edith Regalado

MOSCOW – The Philippines may be acquiring weapons from Russia, but the two countries will not forge a strategic security alliance and will only focus on boosting economic ties, an envoy said yesterday.   

Philippine Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said Russia has no plans of becoming a military power in the region and that its pivot to Asia is geared toward strengthening economic relationships. 

“They just want a good relationship, a very respectful one. Right now, they want to start heavily on the economic and then eventually on security,” Sorreta said in a press conference here yesterday.

“They don’t want to be a military power in our region. They have no interest in competing with the existing power dynamics. They want to engage our region, Southeast Asia, purely on economic, cultural, people-to-people.”

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Duterte leaves for Russia to explore Philippines-Russia cooperation

MANILA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left for Russia on Monday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to chart the future of Philippine-Russian relations.

In a speech before boarding his plane at the Davao City international airport, Duterte said he would meet Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow "to discuss ways of charting the future direction of our partnership across many areas."

"We will exchange views on regional and international issues to determine how we can best advance our shared interests," he said.

Duterte said cooperation between Manila and Moscow opened 40 years ago but "it has opened ever so slightly."

"There is much room to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. There are many opportunities that needed to be explored. Now we can work together to open those even wider," Duterte said.

"This is a strategic oversight that has led to many missed opportunities for our country. I am determined to correct this," Duterte said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Philippine President to Start First Official Visit to Russia on Monday

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday will start his first official visit to Russia, which will last through Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Duterte is scheduled to meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The politicians are expected to discuss issues concerning cooperation in political, military and economic spheres.

Apart from meeting with Russian leadership, the Philippine president will deliver a speech in Moscow State Institute of International Relations on Wednesday and participate in the Philippine-Russia Business Forum in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Friday.

Duterte is also expected to meet with representatives of the Philippine community in Russia, which reaches up to 5,000 people.

News Story: Duterte's Russia trip to mark new chapter in Manila-Moscow ties

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will leave for Russia on Monday for a four-day ‘landmark’ visit that is in line with a decision to pursue what the government calls an independent foreign policy.

Agreements on security, legal assistance and trade are expected to be signed during the May 23 to 26 visit, which, officials said, would mark a new chapter in the ties between Manila and Moscow.

These agreements include defense cooperation, military and technical cooperation, a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, a treaty on extradition, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of security between the two countries’ national security councils.

Duterte will also meet with Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin on May 24 and 25 to discuss key issues and ways to strengthen political, military and economic cooperation.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Duterte to witness signing of defense, trade deals in Russia visit

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to witness the signing of several bilateral agreements during his official visit to Russia next week.

"These agreements are those related to defense, security, legal assistance, trade and investment, peaceful use of nuclear energy and culture," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad said in a press briefing Friday.

The president is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Moscow from May 22 to 26, marking a new chapter in Philippines-Russia relations.

The upcoming meeting follows the meeting of Duterte with Putin at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru in November last year. Duterte had also met with Medvedev during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Vientiane, Laos last September.

Duterte will discuss important issues and areas of cooperation and economic partnership with Medvedev while his meeting with Putin will dwell on cooperation in political, military and defense.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Philippines, Russia finish draft agreement on fighting crime

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Russia recently finished adopting texts for agreements that may be signed as President Rodrigo Duterte visits Moscow this month.

The delegations from the Philippines and Russia have finished the negotiations for the proposed mutual legal assistance and extradition treaty between the two countries, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Philippine delegation consisted of officials from the Department of Justice, DFA and the Philippine Embassy. The Russian team was composed of officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, Office of the Attorney General and Office of the President.

The two countries conducted the negotiations from April 24 to 28 at the Ministry of Justice in Russia and on April 29 at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.

“The signing of the two agreements during the visit of President Duterte to Russia will be a significant step forward in combating the scourge of criminality, including terrorism and drug-related crimes,” Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Palace - Closer ties with China, Russia to benefit Philippines

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts to seek closer ties with China and Russia following the release of a poll showing that majority of Filipinos distrust the two countries.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said renewed ties with China and Russia would “provide a healthy opportunity to appreciate and understand these two countries.”

“As the president charts an independent foreign policy, the public needs a deeper understanding of the need for expanding our diplomatic horizons,” Abella said in a statement.

“Our enhanced relations with China and Russia will bolster our international relations and give us more room to grow, expand, and become more rooted as we get to know ourselves better as a nation in a community of nations,” he added.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Philippines, Russia to conclude framework agreement on defense

MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is ready to conclude a framework agreement on defense and security with Russia when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visits Moscow this month, a government statement said on Wednesday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on April 26 on the sidelines of the VI Moscow Conference on International Security.

"It was the first ever meeting between the two defense officials," the statement read.

Read the full story at Xinhua