Filipino, Russian officials met in Moscow to discuss ways to share info vs terrorism — envoy

Philippines’ Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting recently in Manila. (Photo courtesy DFA)

(Eagle News)–Filipino and Russian  officials met in Moscow, Russia early August to discuss ways on how to share information to fight terrorism.

In a Facebook post, Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta said the Filipino delegation was led by Restituto Santos, the head of the  directorate for counter terrorism of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

“Details were worked out on intensifying intelligence cooperation and exchanges,” Sorreta said.

He said in another post that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and a delegation were in Russia to meet officials of  the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“Terrorism is a global menace and cooperation with states that can provide timely and reliable intelligence will be a great help in our own efforts to eradicate this scourge,” he added.

Philippine-Russian relations have improved since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Only recently, Duterte called out a US defense official for warning the Philippines against purchasing military equipment from Russia, and for saying the US was a “better partner.”