Philippine President Duterte scoffs at US offer to buy ‘utterly useless’ F-16 jets

The offer follows advice from a visiting Pentagon official, Randall Schriver, against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms

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Two US Air Force F-16 Thunderbirds at an air show. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:48pm, 24 Aug 2018Updated: 7:54am, 25 Aug 2018

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected an offer by the US defence chief and other top American officials to buy F-16 fighter jets, saying such an acquisition would be “utterly useless” because his country needs lighter combat aircraft to fight insurgents.

Duterte scoffed at the offer on Thursday, saying it had been floated in a letter by Defence Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The offer came after he was slammed by the US for his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs, he said.

During a televised speech in a military ceremony, Duterte read what he said was the letter to him by the US officials.

He said the Philippines did not need the F-16s “and yet they dangled (them) before us after they humiliated us”.

Duterte’s disclosure followed advice last week from a visiting Pentagon official, Randall Schriver, against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms.

Rodrigo Duterte (right) said the US humiliated the Philippines. Photo: AP

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was expected to meet his Russian counterpart this week about the possibility of buying Russian arms, local media reported.

Philippine President Duterte scoffs at US offer to buy ‘utterly useless’ F-16 jets

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The offer follows advice from a visiting Pentagon official, Randall Schriver, against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms

The offer follows advice from a visiting Pentagon official, Randall Schriver, against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms