ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Duterte is scheduled to visit Russia this summer to sign a defense agreement for possible acquisition of military logistics, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año said.

“I think our President is going to Russia this summer for that signing of agreement. Until then, we can start our defense bilateral agreement with our counterpart in Russia,” Año told reporters on the sidelines of the turnover rites at the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on Tuesday.

Año made the statement when asked if the AFP would acquire weaponry from Russia.

Año said the AFP has not made any purchase of Russian-made firearms and other weapons and defense logistics, citing the absence of a defense bilateral agreement.

Año said that at present, the AFP has enough resources to do its job.

Año added the government has yet to sign a pact with the Russian government.

Both Russia and China have expressed readiness to help the Philippine military pursue its capability upgrade program by offering to become its source of weapons and other military assets and equipment.

Russia, for its part, is offering to sell a submarine, drones and sniper rifles to the AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had invited President Duterte to visit Moscow this year.

Putin extended the invitation to Duterte on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru last November.

If the government decides to purchase Russian weapons, Año said the AFP would have to familiarize itself with the system.

Año agreed that there is a difference between the weapons utilized by the Western countries and those in Russia and China.

He cited the incompatibility of some Russian weapons with those used by western countries.

As this developed, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev met with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials yesterday as part of bilateral cooperation on security issues.

Khovaev visited the PCG headquarters in Manila and was briefed by PCG officer-in-charge Commodore Joel Garcia on the operations of the agency and what it needs to be able to further enhance its capacities.

In the closed-door meeting, Garcia informed the Russian envoy of the functions of the PCG, spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said.

In the same meeting, Khovaev and Garcia discussed the West Philippine Sea issue where the country has a territorial dispute with China. – With Edu Punay