A file photo taken on March 23, 2014, shows a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion taking off at RAAF Pearce Base in Perth.
Australian military spy planes will start flying missions over the southern Philippines to help in the fight against Islamic militants terrorising the area, the government said on June 23, 2017. Canberra, which has an extensive defence cooperation program with Manila, said two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft will provide surveillance support to the Philippine military. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / ROB GRIFFITH
Malacañang on Friday welcomed the two surveillance aircraft from Australia to assist the government in fighting the Maute terrorists in Marawi City.
“As we previously stated, we would gladly welcome any form of foreign assistance allowed under our Constitution to help suppress the rebellion in Marawi,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during Mindanao Hour briefing in Davao City.
“Our Defense officials are in close coordination with their Australian counterparts in their offer of providing surveillance support,” Abella added.
In a statement, the Australian government said it was “working with the government of the Philippines to support the fight against terrorism in our region.”
Australian defense minister Marise Payne said the Philippines has accepted an Australian offer of two Australian Defense Force AP-3C Orion aircraft to provide surveillance support for the military.
“I recently spoke with my counterpart Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana about how Australia can assist the Philippines in its fight against extremists. We agreed the best way to defeat terrorism in our region is for us to work together,” Payne said.
Australia has condemned the terrorist attacks in Marawi City.
“The regional threat from terrorism, in particular from Daesh and foreign fighters, is a direct threat to Australia and our interests. Australia will continue to work with our partners in South East Asia to counter it,” Payne said.
Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the spy planes would be a great help for the military.
“It is a welcome development to boost our capability,” Gapay said.
“In every military operation, the intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability are very important. So having these capabilities, it could be used in any military operation, not just Marawi, but of course, in all other parts in Mindanao,” he added.