An American military aircraft that was spotted last weekend at Clark Air Base are part of a maritime security training with the United States forces, according to Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri.
Two aircraft were seen last weekend at Clark Air Base, a former US military facility in Angeles City, Pampanga. An American Lockheed C-130 cargo plane and a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
According to Iriberri the training is similar to the Balikatan and PHIBLEX amphibious exercises with the US counterparts.
“Maritime security training is meant to upgrade our capabilities and expose our forces to new equipment,” Iriberri said.
However Iriberri refuse to answer whether the training is related to the ongoing dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.
“The bilateral training is not directed against any country or any activity, it is just for the purpose of upgrading and the capability also of the Armed Forces,” he said.
The two US aircraft were spotted during the welcoming ceremony of the two new FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea. -John Esconde
