Russia To Donate 5000 Kalashnikov Rifles, Army Trucks To Philippines

Russia will donate 5000 Kalashnikov rifles, 1 million rounds of ammunition and 20 army trucks to help the Philippines by end of this month for Manila’s war against terrorism.

“Five thousand Kalashnikov [rifles] are set to arrive within the month,” President Rodrigo Duterte was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the donation also includes 1 million rounds of ammunition and 20 brand new army trucks, which will arrive on a Russian ship that will dock Oct. 22 in the Philippines and will be turned over to Manila on Oct. 25.

“This is Russia’s help in our fight against terrorism,” Lorenzana said. “They are also fighting terrorism in their country and they want to help the worldwide fight against terrorism”.

In May 2017, Russia and Philippines signed an agreement wherein the former will supply much needed modern military hardware to the East Asian country as well as cooperate on further defence and counter-terrorism measures as well as the war against drugs.

Philippines has battled an Islamist insurgency for decades in the south of the country. But Manila reports that unlike previous insurgencies the current fight with ISIS is internationalised. In addition to radicalised citizens of Philippines, the fighters include those of Indonesian and Malaysian origin, including some who were unable to get to Syria and Iraq in order to wage Salafist war/jihad.