MANILA — The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s Ilyushin-76 turbofan strategic airlifter that landed twice in Davao City this month had complied with the requirements needed for such activities.
This was bared by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo in a press briefing Monday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“Ang paglapag ng (The landing of the) (Chinese) military aircraft sa (in) Davao City, ito po para sa kaalaman ng lahat ay dumaan sa proseso(for everyone’s information, it complied with the necessary procedures). (It was) the same aircraft that landed, the same Chinese aircraft that landed on its way to New Zealand (last June 8) para um-attend ng (to attend) Sky Train 2018,” he added.
The above-mentioned aircraft made another refueling stop at Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport last June 22 where it was spotted again by aviation enthusiasts.
“Dumaan po ito ng kaukulang proseso, ayon po sa record na nagmula sa (It went through all the necessary procedures, based on the record from the) Department of National Defense, kay (from) (DND Spokesperson) Director Arsenio Andolong. Sinabi niya, ang (He said the) Department of Foreign Affairs (received the) request (letter) ng (from) China nung (last) April 23 (regarding the aircraft landing and refueling in Davao City) and it was granted in May 22. At sa pagitan po ng panahong yun (During those times), nagkaroon po ngconsultation, buhat po sa DFA, pinadala po ang request sa DND (the DFA asked for consultation and sent the request to DND). DND channeled the request to the Philippine Air Force, and the PAF did not (make any) objections, so ibinalik ang (they returned the) approval or recommendation to grant from the PAF or AFP going back to the DND, and the DND communicated this back to the DFA,” Arevalo said.
He added that there is nothing irregular in the request for refueling as other nations also do this regularly.
“There’s nothing irregular, there’s nothing to worry with regard to this particular landing of the aircraft because our yearly average (states that) 70 aircraft ang lumalapag sa ating bansa (land in our country) from different nations and 25 vessels are visiting (the) Philippines on) yearly average,” Arevalo stressed. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
