Duterte orders Armed Forces to buy weapons, spy devices from Israel
JERUSALEM — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to buy defense equipment from Israel as he thanked the Jewish state for helping the Philippines in its campaign against terrorism.
Duterte claimed the United States, the Philippines' traditional ally, spy on those who buy equipment from it.
"My orders to my military is that in terms of military equipment particularly intelligence gathering, we only have one country to buy it from them. That is my order specifically, Israel," Duterte said during his meeting with Israel president Reuven Rivlin here Tuesday.
"America is a good friend but you know, if he would sell you something, he would also be listening. And so with China and everybody else, Germany. So you can be very sure that they are also amply connected with you," he added.
Previous reports claimed Duterte would push for an arms deal with Israel but officials have yet to confirm it.
Last month, US officials wrote a letter to Duterte affirming Washington's support for the Philippines' military modernization program and calling for greater cooperation on trade and defense.
The letter, which was signed by US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and Defense Secretary James Mathis, also cited the track record of the US as a defense supplier and the capabilities of the equipment it had supplied to the Philippines.
Duterte has said he was ready to meet with the American officials but challenged them to ensure that the delivery of equipment to be bought would not be blocked by his critics.
Some American lawmakers had opposed the sale of firearms to the Philippine National Police because of allegations that Duterte is condoning human rights abuses.
Israel vows counter-terrorism help to Philippines
Duterte thanked Israel for supporting the Philippines' campaign against terrorism, including the efforts to liberate Marawi, which was occupied by extremists last year. He said the Jewish state had provided intelligence equipment that strengthened the government forces' drive against security threats.
"With the worldwide terrorism now, it behooves upon Israel and the Philippines to cooperate more than ever to defeat one enemy which I think could never disappear within the next ten years," Duterte said.
"It’s (going to) be a long, long ride.
Rivlin assured Duterte that Israel is willing to help the Philippines combat terrorism.
"We know that we have a very, very strong relationship now with you and your people. We both trying to protect and to defend our people against fundamentalism, against terrorism, and we assure that we can also cooperate," he said.
"We are cooperating with every country that are trying to do the same to protect their own people and to carry the burden of security. And we do that with the idea and the values that we are holding, the values of democracy and the human rights."
Duterte said terrorists have started to bomb key municipalities in Mindanao, the site of a decades-old Islamic insurgency. The scenario makes it important for the Philippines to buy or borrow equipment, he added.
"You have extended us critical assistance during the Marawi siege against the extremists. And the equipment that you lent us helped us a lot to win the war and shortened the period of fighting," he said.
Rivlin: Hitler was a devil on Earth
The two leaders also discussed the Philippines' assistance to the Jews during the Holocaust, the systematic murder of Jews by Nazi Germans during World War II.
Rivlin thanked the Philippines for providing sanctuary to the Jews who were fleeing persecution and called Nazi leader Adolf Hitler a "devil."
"At the time of the Holocaust when no one could be sure that he can live, the very first—the very day that he have lived along with. I must say that all those people who have found safe haven in your place are very much appreciated by us," Rivlin said.
"And we like you to know that it is not only the Jewish people but the whole free world at that time, all humanity at that time, felt that the Nazi leader, the (kinds) of the Nazis people, Hitler was actually representing the devil himself. He was the devil on Earth," he added.
About six million Jews died during the Holocaust.
Duterte assured Rivlin the Philippines would support the right of a nation to exist peacefully.
"You can be sure that the Philippines will remain loyal to the tenets of democracy and the right of a nation to exist peacefully," he said.
Duterte said the Philippines also wants to enhance further its cooperation with Israel in investments and trade.
"We intend to explore further in the field of investments and trade and there are a lot of opportunities Israel can help us on this. And of course, to set up investments, business in my country," he said.
Duterte noted that Filipinos and Israelites have a lot in common including the reading of the Bible.
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