Senate President Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III receives His Excellency Igor A. Khovaev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines, during a courtesy call at the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Ambassador Khovaev expressed Russia’s desire to expand bilateral relations with the Philippines on all levels including parliamentary and closer party-to-party ties. The Senate President, likewise, thanked the Ambassador for Russia’s growing interest in the Philippines and looked forward to learning from Russia’s experience with a federal system of government. (PRIB Photo by Albert Calvelo)