By Ali Abo Rezeg and Abdel Raouf Arnaout

ANKARA/JERUSALEM

An Israeli company is set to open a weapons factory in the Philippines next year, according to Filipino media reports.

The Philippine News Agency recently reported that the agreement would be finalized sometime later this month.

The news agency quoted Salvador Zamora, chairman of Filipino Rayo Illuminar Corporation, as saying that officials from Israel’s Silver Shadow Advance Security Systems (SSASS) would visit the Philippines later this month to finalize plans for an assembly plant slated to come online by 2019.

SSASS is a leading Israeli arms manufacturer specialized in the production of light weapons.

According to the news agency, Israeli officials held a series of meetings with their Filipino counterparts earlier this month before Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte paid a visit to Israel.

During his visit, Duterte said he had instructed his military officials to purchase Israeli weapons, because Israel -- unlike most other countries -- “does not impose restrictions on their use”.

One of the world's leading arms exporters, Israel generally does not disclose details of arms sales agreements.