Senate to seek inquiry into ‘unadvised’ landing of US military aircraft at Naia
FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos is seeking a Senate inquiry into why a United States air force aircraft purportedly landed “unadvised” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), last June 26.
Marcos, who heads the Senate committee on foreign relations, filed Senate Resolution 667 on Tuesday (June 27), directing the appropriate panel to probe the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the US military aircraft on June 26.
In the resolution, Marcos said a Boeing C-17 strategic transport aircraft operated by the United States military, which has nine military crew and one passenger onboard, landed at Naia around 8:08 a.m. from Guam and departed the airport 10 hours later at around 6:10 p.m. before heading to its original destination in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“According to a source, the Manila International Airport Integrated Command and Control Center was not given any advisory on the arrival of aforesaid aircraft,” Marcos said in the resolution.
Citing the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Marcos added that the alternate airport of the aircraft “for contingencies” was Clark International Airport instead of Naia.
Marcos also wanted the appropriate panel to probe the actual number and identities of those onboard the military aircraft and the lack of coordination between CAAP, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department National Defense, among others.
“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,” she said.
On June 9, Marcos disclosed that her brother’s administration agreed to a supposed discreet plan, granting the US’ request to provide a safe haven in the Philippines for Afghans suspected to be “American spies” who fled their country.
Prior to baring the information from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Marcos filed on June 8 a resolution seeking to probe the said plan, questioning the PMS’ decision to keep the results of the “technical coordination meeting” from the public.
