PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday expressed hope the Russians would visit more often after an anti-submarine warship, the Admiral Tributs, made port calls to here.
“Thank you very much. I hope you can come back more often,” Duterte told the ship’s Commander Artem Kolpaschikov and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev and other delegates who hosted his tour of the ship.
Duterte was first shown Admiral Tributs’ 2 x 4-container launchers of Rastrub Rocket Torpedo System, followed by a visit to the bow of the ship where he witnessed a demonstration of the ship’s missile weapons system and was shown various military hardware.
Duterte also witnessed a demonstration by Russian diver soldiers and went up to the ship’s bridge where the Russian Navy demonstrated its navigation system.
On his way out, Duterte had fist bumps with Russian navy officials as he viewed the Russian Navy’s Ka-27 helicopter at the ship’s helideck.
“It’s a sign of a fighting spirit,” Duterte said.
The visit was only the third by Russian military vessels to the Philippines, according to the Navy’s Commodore Francisco Cabudao who led the welcoming ceremony for the Russian ships.
The Russian Navy’s visit comes less than a month after Duterte sent his foreign and defense ministers to Moscow to discuss arms deals after a US senator said he would block the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to concerns about the rising death toll in Duterte’s war on drugs.
Malacañang had earlier welcomed the pronouncements by Russian officials that Moscow was ready to help the Philippines enhance its military capabilities and cooperate in the advancement of the two countries’ common interests.
“The goodwill visit by the Russian Navy will contribute to the strengthening of their friendship with the Philippine Navy,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
