Duterte says US govt seeking talks on Philippines’ defense procurement

The Philippines president on Thursday said three members of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet had sought a dialogue about Manila’s procurement plans for defense equipment. Rodrigo Duterte said he had received a letter signed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Defense James Mattis reaffirming Washington’s “strongest support” for the Philippines’ effort to modernize its military. Duterte’s disclosure follows advice last week from a visiting Pentagon official, Randall Schriver, against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms, Reuters reports. Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart this week about the possibility of buying Russian arms, according to local media. Duterte said what he needed were attack helicopters and small planes for counter-insurgency operations, adding that he would not go to the US for the dialogue.