Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)
MANILA – The jet fighters of the China People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) that harassed a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane holding a maritime patrol over the Bajo de Masinloc possibly came from a land base, a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday.
"There was no report of any aircraft carrier in the vicinity that could have been the base for launching such an aircraft, it is safe to say these were land-based," PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Trinidad said the PLAAF planes involved in the incident were "multi-role fighters".
He said they have yet to receive specific details of these Chinese aircraft.
"These are part of the challenges your airmen, your pilots face in the increasing complexity of the international arena, whether on sea or air, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will not be deterred from performing its mandate," he added.
Trinidad also said the Philippines did not do anything extraordinary to warrant such an aggressive action from China.
"All of our actions historically have been in pursuit of the mandate of the AFP and of our national interest," he added.
During the Aug. 8 incident, two PLAAF aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of the PAF's NC-212i aircraft which was then on a routine maritime patrol over the Bajo de Masinloc.
The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has formally lodged a diplomatic protest against Beijing over the incident.
Diplomatic stance in protecting PH territory
The AFP, meanwhile, said it is utilizing a diplomatic stance in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and upholding national sovereignty.
“We are committed to asserting our rights and interests through diplomatic channels under the rules-based international order in defending our maritime zones and archipelagic sea lanes," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.
She also added the AFP remains steadfast in its mission to protect and serve the nation with "dedication and resilience."
Padilla also discussed key topics, including AFP operations related to internal security, territorial defense, and humanitarian and disaster response.
Meanwhile, she also said the AFP is making adjustments in its recruitment process to attract competent technical personnel to join the ranks in compliance with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
"We have special enlistments. We're adjusting age limits and of course, different requirements to adjust to our current situation. We are also looking at the youth and their skills sets, because we acknowledge that they are already technologically capable," Padilla said in Filipino. (PNA)
