MANILA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleyev on Wednesday to witness the handover of 5,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and military equipment that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to the Philippines.
The Malacanang presidential palace said in a statement that Duterte also toured the shipboard main alley, air defense platform, main artillery unit, and the wardroom. Admiral Panteleyev has been docked in Manila since Friday for a goodwill visit.
Following his tour, the statement said Duterte then witnessed the signing of the certificate of donation. After the signing, Duterte inspected the weapons and ammunition.
Aside from 5,000 units of AK-74M Kalashnikov, Russia also donated 20 units of Ural-4320 multi-purpose vehicles, one million units of 1943-type cartridges with steel core bullets and 5,000 units of steel helmets.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an agreement for Military-Technical Cooperation between the two countries on the sidelines of the fourth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting - Plus, held in Clark, Pampanga, a province north of Manila.
"The document contained provisions on various areas of military and technical cooperation such as research, production support, as well as possible exchange of experts and training of personnel for joint programs," Lorenzana said.
In addition, he said the two governments also signed the contract for the Philippines' procurement of defense articles from Rosoboronexport, a Russian state-owned company."
Also Lorenzana and Shoigu had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Shoigu is the first ever Russian defense minister to visit the Philippines.
In a text message to Xinhua, Khovaev said a number of documents on bilateral military cooperation, including contracts for supply of Russian weaponry and ammunition, have been signed during (Shoigu's) visit.
Three Russian warships - large anti-submarine destroyers Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Vinogradov, and large sea tanker Boris Butoma - anchored in Manila on Friday in time for Shoigu's visit. The warships are scheduled to leave port on Thursday.
It was the third port visit this year by Russian warships.
Duterte announced Russia's donations earlier this month, saying his "good friend" Putin sent the military equipment.
Duterte visited Russia in May, but his trip was cut short after pro-Islamic State militants attacked the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
