After his announcement of procuring firearms from China and Russia, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, November 4, that he is going to consider securing weapons and defense equipment from the United States if endorsed by the Philippine military.
Duterte has asked his defense secretary, as well as military officials, to go to China and Russia in order to examine the weapons and defense equipment they can offer to the Philippines. But he goes to add that it is still the military’s recommendation that is crucial to the final decision.
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President Duterte said, “China is open. Anything you want. They even sent me a brochure, telling me to choose and they will provide.”
“I’m just holding off because I’m looking at the military,” he adds. “If you want to stick with America, fine, but assess it well and find a balance because we are being ridiculed.”
The President said on his speech wherein, once again, he had gone on a tirade using swearwords against the US for their constant criticism of the administration’s deadly anti-drug campaign. He had called American officials “monkeys” and had broken his promise of no longer resorting to cussing.
When asked about Duterte’s latest biting remarks, State Department spokesman John Kirby stated that this was at odds with the ongoing close relationship of the US and the Philippine government and its people.
“There are long standing relationships that we have nurtured over the years with figures in his government, and those relationships are still there, and they’re still vibrant,” Kirby clarifies and adds that the US is still working on establishing a good working relationship with Duterte.
Sources: (globalnation.inquirer.net, philstar.com)
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