PH plans to lease Japanese planes still being finalized, Gazmin says

This July 20, 2011 file photo, captured through the window of a closed aircraft, shows an aerial view of Pag-asa Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the South China Sea located off the coast of western Philippines. AP File Photo/Pool

The country is still finalizing its plans to lease from Japan five training aircraft to help patrol the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Thursday.

“Pinag uusapan pa yang TC-90 (Talks on TC-90 are still ongoing). Yun ay general topic na magkakaroon ng ganito (The general topic is to have such), as to how, yung mechanics on how to acquire this will be discussed in another forum,” he told reporters.

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He said it was Japan which offered the planes that will give a boost in maritime patrol in the disputed sea.

“Nag offer sila kasi ang request nga natin noon (They offered because we were our previous request) is how to address our capability gap on patrolling our maritime area,” he said.

On Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III announced in his speech at the Air Force turnover ceremonies that 5 Japanese planes will soon be patrolling the waters in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Aquino: PH to use 5 Japanese aircraft for West Philippine Sea missions

Defense spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the details of the lease are still being finalized.

It will also be leased at a “very low price” and at “an amount highly advantageous to the government.”

He couldn’t immediately say when the planes will arrive. RAM