Intruder in Balikatan sinking exercise turns out to be local aircraft

The Navy bids farewell to four of its old vessels—BRP Pangasinan (PS-31), BRP Quezon (PS-70), BRP Emilio Liwanag (PC-118) and BRP Salvador Abcede (PC-114). FRANCES MANGOSING

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to prevailing suspicions, the aerial intruder in the first-ever maritime sinking exercise conducted during Manila and Washington’s war games turned out to be a local aircraft.

Col. Michael Logico, executive agent of the Balikatan 2024, on Wednesday said the interloping aircraft was from a local flight school.

A decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette called BRP Pangasinan sank off San Antonio town in Zambales or 235 kilometers away from Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

READ: A surprise ‘guest’ buzzed over Zambales during Balikatan drill— official

The first sinking drills were successful, but the intruding aircraft had caused a delay.

READ: US, PH to sink another mock enemy ship in annual war games

For the second time, Logico said a sinking exercise will be conducted for this year’s Balikatan, using a decommissioned Navy vessel that was shelved after it ran aground last year.

In July 2023, the former BRP Lake Caliraya ran aground off Bataan, but an American contractor retrieved the ship to be used for this exercise. A day before it ran aground, it was supposed to be used as a mock target for a bilateral marine exercise between Manila and Washington, but the drills were canceled then due to inclement weather.