Duterte rules out purchase of firearms from US

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte ruled out the possibility of buying arms and equipment from the United States in response to Washington’s criticism of his war on illegal drugs.

Duterte added the US has been imposing strict rules on purchases, affecting the government’s security program.

“You have to be a warrior to see the difference of what is a matter of principle and a matter of honor. Which is why we have to buy either from Israel or Korea, period. I will not agree to buy (from the US)… It does not sit well with us Filipinos following their dictates. I have no qualms against Americans, they started this…criticizing me heavily (on my war against illegal) drugs,” Duterte said in a speech in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan last Thursday.

Duterte lamented how the US changed its policies over the sale of firearms and other equipment to the Philippines.

He said he was caught in a situation where he was forced to buy military equipment from other countries.

The President said he went to China first, bringing along military officials to buy guns from them in 2016.

Duterte said he then flew to Russia to seek more armaments. 

According to the President, his security officials are telling him that their existing arms inventory is no longer effective in hitting the targets.

“So that we had that order from America, unfortunately they stopped it. That prompted me to decide to go to China to buy. I told the Chinese ‘I’m here to buy. I’m not begging, I am willing to pay,’ And China said, ‘no it’s all right. You can have the guns free’,” Duterte said.

Duterte said then US president Barack Obama cancelled the supposed order of the Philippines for new firearms after a member of the US Congress denounced the delivery of the arms to the Philippines.  

The delivery would have involved at least 23,000 M-16 rifles and SIG Sauer pistols. 

Duterte also mentioned three US Cabinet members who wrote him to consider his position to proceed with the purchase of the 23,000 firearms. “And I told them no,” he said.

In the same speech, Duterte lamented the US threatened to sanction countries buying arms from Russia and China, citing the existing embargo and trade war with Beijing.

Despite this development, defense and military officials said the Philippines will remain tied up with Western countries including the US.

“Deliveries of key military equipment from the US are already in the pipeline. Also, as much as we like it, we cannot just abandon those already approved defense deals not only with the US but also with other Western bloc countries,” one official said. – With Jaime Laude