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A ranking Department of National Defense (DND) official said the country is open to acquire weapons of all kinds from Russia but stressed that the move will depend on the nation’s capabilities to handle these equipment. DND Undersecretary for Finance, Munition, Materiel and Modernization Raymundo DV Elefante, in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday, said capabilities refer to the funding and manpower capable of handling these weapons.

Elefante made the statement when asked if the Philippines is interested in acquiring attack helicopters, diesel electric submarines and fighter jets from Russia aside from small arms like the automatic rifles and longe-range sniper rifles.

“It depends. As long [as] we have capabilities (i.e funds and manpower) but this is still a long-term [plan],” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the DND to look into Russia as a possible source of armaments and other weaponry needed by the military.

DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed the he will visit Russia next week to “window shop” for military equipment which might be acquired as part of efforts to beef up the Armed Forces of the Philippines.