Russia renews vow to boost defense cooperation with PH

MANILA. President Rodrigo Duterte receives Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev in a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace on January 31, 2019. (Screenshot from RTVM video)
MANILA. President Rodrigo Duterte receives Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev in a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace on January 31, 2019. (Screenshot from RTVM video)

RUSSIA, one of the powerful nations deemed as the Philippines's "friend" by President Rodrigo Duterte, has renewed its commitment to bolster its defense cooperation with Manila, following the twin explosions that rocked Jolo, Sulu.

Moscow made the reaffirmation during Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev's courtesy call on Duterte at Malacañan Palace on Thursday, January 31, according to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

"The Russian Ambassador reiterated their condolences for the deaths caused by the twin explosions in Jolo and condemned the incident while reaffirming their country's commitment to help our nation combat terrorism," the Palace official said in a statement issued on Thursday night.

"Russian Ambassador Khovaev likewise renewed Russia’s commitment to strengthen their cooperation to help our national defense and significantly improve its capabilities," he added.

Twin bombings at a Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu while a mass was ongoing on Sunday, January 26, left 20 people killed.

Four days after the fatal explosions in Jolo, two people died while at least four others were injured in a grenade blast inside a mosque in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, January 30.

Despite the incident, Panelo said the Duterte government had received assurance from Russia that it wanted to build a "long-term relationship with the Philippines based on trust and confidence."

Duterte, for his part, reaffirmed the importance of the Philippines's relations with Russia, Panelo said.

He said the President had likewise renewed the commitment to further expand and deepen his administration's cooperative ties with Russia.

Apart from Khovaev, Panelo confirmed that the President also met with Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz on Thursday.

Panelo said Israel, through Harpaz, likewise had offered condolences to the families of individuals who died in Jolo bombings.

"The Israeli Ambassador relayed their condolences for the affected families resulting from the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu, and said that terrorism and violent extremism must be defeated," he said.

Panelo said Duterte thanked Russia and Israel for the expression of sympathy for the victims of explosions in Jolo.

"[Duterte] underscored that the Philippines values its relations with countries that share the commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism," the President's spokesman said.

Meantime, Panelo said Duterte's historic visit to Israel last year had also resulted in a "positive" development, which include the ratification of deals protecting overseas Filipino workers' rights.

Panelo said the ratified agreements between Israel and the Philippines, as reported by Harpaz, were focused on "opening and improving opportunities for overseas Filipinos in Israel, particularly for caregivers and those working in the hotel industry."

He also noted that the Israeli Ambassador had further expressed hope in forging greater cooperation between the two nations in the field of agriculture and trade.

"Such a positive development is a direct result of President Duterte’s historic visit to Israel," he said.

"The President likewise reaffirmed the shared values between the Philippines and Israel and renewed our country's commitment to strengthen cooperation between the two countries across many fields," he added. (SunStar Philippines)

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