PH eyes buying Japanese maritime patrol aircraft

THE Department of National Defense said on Thursday is planning to acquire P-3C maritime patrol aircraft from Japan to boost monitoring capabilities.

“We can confirm that. We are interested to get a P3,” Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said.

He could not say how many planes they are planning to acquire.

“We are looking if it will become an excess defense article…If it becomes an excess defense article then we can get it a very low price or acquire it at a very reasonable price that is advantageous to the government,” Galvez added.

A P-3C Orion plane of Japan is currently used in the ongoing naval drills with the Philippines in Palawan near the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The Philippines and Japan agreed to seal a visiting forces agreement during the visit of President Benigno Aquino III in Tokyo early this month.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the VFA would mostly be about transfer of technology and equipment.

Asked if the acquisitions of the P-3C were already discussed with Japan, Galvez said it was mentioned in passing during the discussion of Gazmin and his counterpart during Aquino’s visit to Japan.

Both Japan and the Philippines share a territorial row with China — over the East and South China Seas.