President Duterte thanks Putin for helping Philippines to win battle against ISIS

Adam Garrie
The Duran
Fri, 10 Nov 2017 20:19 UTC

© RFE/RL

While addressing journalists, Duterte said that Russia helped Philippines where the US failed. Putin in turn praised Duterte's leadership.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Vietnam.

During a brief statement before the press, Duterte expressed his gratitude to Russia for delivering free shipments of arms to the country.

Duterte stated that he seeks to build a strong armed forces and police as part of his extended legacy to the nation and that Philippines looks increasingly to Russia to purchase modern weapons in order to assure the domestic peace against both terrorists and drug lords.

Rodrigo Duterte then took aim at the United States saying that initially Philippines sought to purchase new weapons from Washington but that "because of the almost equal power of the US Congress and President, our order was scrapped and your assistance helped us to complete the order".

The President of Philippines continued, saying,

"In a way you helped us turn the tide...because of your assistance...so again I thank you very much and the Russian people...we will remember you for all time".

President Putin responded by saying that over and above the new weapons it was Duterte's "decisive posture and readiness of the (Philippines) armed forces" which helped to win the Battle of Marawi against the ISIS-Maute Group.

This is second time that Duterte has met with Putin. The first was in May of this year. It was during Duterte's previous meeting with Putin in Moscow, that ISIS-Maute terrorists began their assault on the southern Philippine city of Marawi, in a clear attempt to show the limitations of a would-be Russia-Philippines partnership.

Duterte however has proved the terrorists wrong as Russia and Philippines look to only expand their partnership in both security and defence sectors as well as in commercial trade.

Comment: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who has overseen a bloody 'war on drugs,' said Manila stands ready to host a world summit on protecting human rights. He suggested investigating all violations of human rights committed by international governments.

The Filipino strongman told a news conference, held at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam, that the summit should focus on human-rights violations not just in the Philippines, but across the world.

"Let's have a summit of how we can protect human rights for all [of the] human race," Duterte said late on Thursday, following a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam. "What makes the death of people in the Philippines more important than the rest of the children in the world that were massacred and killed?"

"Let us investigate all violations of human rights committed by all governments," Duterte said, as cited by Manila Bulletin. When asked if he would invite the United Nations to the summit, the Filipino leader said he would rather opt for lawyers and health experts. "I'm more comfortable with a panel of lawyers because they will understand the legal implications. And maybe experts in the science of medicine and the destruction of the human body."