Senator Imee Marcos wants the Senate to investigate the mysterious activity of a US Air Force Boeing C-17 in Philippine territory and airspace, stressing it raises questions of sovereignty and air travel safety.
Marcos said the Senate hearing inquiry would discuss the US military’s possible violation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Philippine government should know the plane’s mission, the identities of its flight crew and lone passenger, the type of its cargo, and the reason for a 10-hour layover in Manila.
“What we know so far is that the plane came from Guam, was on its way to Puerto Princesa, and proceeded to Honolulu,” she said.
Marcos has filed Senate Resolution 667 calling for an investigation of the incident.
In response to the senator’s questions, the US Embassy in Manila on Thursday clarified that it has been coordinating with the Philippine government to grant permission for the entry of any US government aircraft into the country.
“The embassy coordinates with the Philippine government to receive diplomatic clearance for all U.S. government aircraft that enter the Philippines. We refer you to Philippine authorities for further information,” acting US Embassy spokesperson Stephen Dove said in a statement.
Citing a confidential source, Marcos said no prior advisory on the plane’s arrival reached the Airport Integrated Command and Control Center at NAIA.
A provision in Section 8 of the VFA states that “aircraft operated by or for the United States Armed Forces shall observe local air traffic control regulations while in the Philippines.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the US Embassy had informed the Department of Foreign Affairs and gained diplomatic clearance number DSN-0659-KB-JUN-US-2023 for a US military plane supporting joint Philippine-US activities under Kapit Bisig.
But Marcos emphasized it is crucial for the state to carefully scrutinize the activities of foreign militaries in the country, particularly those which appear questionable or are shrouded in secrecy.
The upcoming Senate inquiry will be the second that Marcos has called for in two weeks to discuss the lack of transparency in US military activities in the Philippines.
A previous hearing made public a US government plan to have the Philippines temporarily host up to 50,000 Afghans while they are processed for special immigrant visas to the United States.
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the halfway house that will be built by the United States could be used to house Afghan refugees.
“It would be the US that would finance their construction, ” said Zubiri. He said they also have a halfway house in Germany and Qatar.
He also emphasized the Afghans are not seeking asylum in the Philippines.
“They will stay temporarily in the Philippines while they await their US visa,” he said.
The Senate leader recalled the Philippines had opened its gates to the Jews during World War II and to Vietnamese refugees during the Vietnam War.
He dismissed speculations by Senator Marcos that they could be posing as operatives working for the US government.
“I don’t think so. They told me that they are just going to be here for 60 to 90 days and in an enclosed place,” he said.
“They cannot leave. There’s an assurance they will not be permitted to leave. Their stay would be guarded well,” Zubiri added.
He also dismissed claims that Afghan refugees may attract Taliban sympathizers to attack the country.
“I don’t think so. They have a problem surviving in their country,” he said.
The Senate leader said accommodating the Afghan refugees is the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons.
Zubiri, who has returned from a three-week official trip to Washington DC said he was approached about the issue by the US State Department.
He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — brother of Senator Marcos — would make the final decision on whether to grant the request.
“The chief architect of foreign policy is the President,” he said.