War on terror

‘We need modern weapons’: Duterte meets Putin, cuts trip short over Philippines terrorist crisis

The Philippines wants modern Russian weapons to combat ISIS-linked terrorists, the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte told his Russian counterpart after declaring martial law for 60 days in the South and cutting short his trip to Moscow to deal with the crisis.

The meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Duterte was scheduled for Thursday but was brought forward to Tuesday evening after the Philippines president declared martial law and was forced to return home. The declaration followed a shootout between government troops and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) aligned militants in the southern city of Marawi.

“I came [to Moscow] to secure your support and to confirm our friendship,” the Philippines President said as he met Putin.