Duterte: Russia helped turn tide in Marawi

President Duterte on Friday thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping “turn the tide” in the fight against Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists in Marawi City.

The President said the Philippines was going to buy more arms from Russia and also wanted to increase trade between the two countries, following up on Russia’s promise to buy $2.5 billion worth of Philippine products.

“I would like to convey to you the gratitude of the Filipino people for your timely assistance, especially the trucks and the arms that you sent because we have to replenish—the supplies were getting low,” Mr. Duterte told Putin at the start of their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Da Nang.