Russian security experts to train select AFP, PNP personnel

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council and Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser shakes hands with President Duterte during a meeting between Russian and Philippine security officials in Davao City. —courtesy of National Security Council

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City— Russian military officials will train some members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), President Rodrigo Duterte has said.

Duterte said Russia made the offer during the visit of Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council and Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser to Duterte in Davao City on February 16.

“They want to train our soldiers also and initially last night, I committed to send 10 PNP members and 10 members of the Armed Forces,” the President said during a dinner with the Philippine Military Academy “Dimasupil” Class of 1967 at the Baguio Country Club here on Friday.

Aside from security training, Duterte said the Philippines and Russia would also share intelligence database to help fight trans-national crimes and terrorism.

READ: Russia offers to share intel data with PH

“We have to connect, because not only about weapons but the critical mass of information that we can share with them,” he said.

The chief executive earlier said the government was eyeing to buy “precision-guided” weapons from Russia amid the government’s offensive against Islamic extremists in Mindanao.

READ: Duterte eyes ‘precision-guided’ weapons from Russia

The President said he and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana would meet with their Russian counterparts and discuss the possible acquisition of “precision-guided” arms.

Duterte is expected to visit Russia in May. IDL