Imee Marcos questions landing of a US Air Force plane at NAIA
Published Jun 28, 2023 05:32 am
The chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee on Wednesday, June 28, sought a formal Senate inquiry into the uncoordinated landing of a US Air Force plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Monday, June 26.
Through Senate Resolution No. 667, Senator Imee Marcos, committee chairman, asked why there was an apparent lack of coordination between the Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Department National Defense (DND) on the matter.
Marcos emphasized that the investigation is in aid of legislation.
She cited Article VIII of the Republic of the Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement, (RP-US VFA) aircraft operated by or for the United States armed forces may enter the Philippines upon approval of the Government of the Philippines and shall observe local air traffic control regulations while in the country.
Marcos emphasized the need for an investigation "in light of the recently revealed U.S. request for the Philippines to temporarily house Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants, the continued escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific Region, and the re-emergence of internal security threats, it is crucial for the State to carefully scrutinize the activities of foreign militaries in the country, particularly those which appear questionable or which are shrouded in secrecy."
The resolution stated:
"Whereas, at 8:08 in the morning of 26 June 2023, a Boeing C-17 strategic transport aircraft owned and/or operated by the United States military landed at the Manila International Airport;
"Whereas, according to a source, the Manila International Airport Integrated Command and Control Center was not given any advisory on the arrival of aforesaid aircraft;
"Whereas, upon verification with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines ("CAAP"), ti was revealed that the Embassy of the United States of America issued an advisory ot the Department of Foreign Afairs that an aircraft registered to the United States military will enter and exit the territorial airspace of the Philippines in direct support of KAPIT BISIG activities and under diplomatic clearance number DSN-0659-KB-JUN-US-202
Whereas, according to CAAP, the subject aircraft has nine military crew and one passenger onboard, that the same departed from Guam, and that its destination is Puerto Princesa, Palawan. CAP revealed that the alternate airport of the aircraft "for contingencies" en route ot Manila was Clark International Airport’
Whereas, according ot CAAP, the subject U.S. military aircraft departed Manila International Airport on the same day at 6:10 pm or 10 hours after it landed thereat. The said aircraft arrived ni Puerto Princesa at 7:08 pm;
Whereas, the foregoing events and circumstances raise several questions, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Whether the Manila International Airport Integrated Command and Control Center was given a prior advisory on the arrival of the U.S. military aircraft;
B. The reason why the US military aircraft landed at t he Manila International Airport even though its true destination was Puerto Princesa, Palawan, which also has an international airport.
C. The reason why the said aircraft stayed at the Manila International Airport for 10 hours before departing for Palawan;
D. The cargo which the aforesaid military aircraft carried and whether part of such cargo was offloaded in any place other than in Puerto Princesa, Palawan;
E.The real number, as well as the identities, of those onboard the military aircraft when it left Guam and whether any of the crew or passenger thereof has a destination other than Puerto Princesa;
F. Whether the said military aircraft made any landings other than those in Manila and Puerto Princesa; and