washington u.s. state department halt plan sale 26,000 assault rifle philippines national police senator ben cardin say would oppose senate aid tell reuters monday aid say cardin top democrat u.s. senate foreign relations committee reluctant unite state provide weapons give concern human right violations philippines news thwart weapons sale meet disappointment among philippine police government tuesday say alternative suppliers would find police spokesman dionardo carlos say philippines yet notify sale stop relationship unite state philippines long-time ally complicate lately president rodrigo duterte angry reaction criticism washington violent battle rid country illegal drug 2,300 people kill police operations suspect vigilantes connection anti-narcotics campaign since duterte take office june 30. u.s. state department inform congress international weapons sales work aid say foreign relations committee staff inform state cardin would oppose deal department prenotification process sale 26,000-27,000 assault rifle stop deal u.s. state department officials comment ronald dela rosa philippine national police chief staunch supporter war drug say like american rifle suggest china alternative small-arms provider really want u.s. rifle reliable tell broadcaster abs-cbn sale push find another source maybe china october duterte tell u.s. president barack obama go hell say unite state refuse sell weapons country care russia china will suppliers accord u.s. officials washington best ignore duterte rhetoric provide pretext outbursts open break philippines could create problems unite state region china influence grow exclusive u.s. stop philippines rifle sale senator oppose source