Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday that Russia has offered to sell the Philippines rifles at “buy one, get one free” deal.
Duterte said he can always buy rifles from Russia, in a news conference after he was back from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru.
Duterte said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him during their meeting in Lima that Russia is willing to sell guns to the Philippines at “buy one, take one free.”
“Why should I have to belabour the point with Cardin. If he does not want us to be allies, we’ll go to Russia and China,” he said.
Duterte was referring to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who reportedly threatened to cancel the sale of some 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to human rights concerns.
The Philippine leader has been at odds with the United States and its leaders, At various times he had abused President Barack Obama and had threatened to cancel military ties with the United States.
Duterte in a recent visit to China also said his country would deepen relations with China and Russia, abandoning long standing, historic ally, the United States.
