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| Japanese TC-90 (Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Michael Punongbayan
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will use its newly acquired TC-90 aircraft from Japan to patrol the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise where incidents of China’s incursion were recorded.
The Philippine Navy officially received the first two of five TC-90 patrol planes from the government of Japan yesterday.
Japan has agreed to lease five patrol planes to the Philippines at minimal cost. The delivery of the other three planes is expected in 2018.
“We can use that anywhere, any part of the country where these are needed,” AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año told reporters during the turnover ceremony of the two patrol planes in Sangley Point, Cavite yesterday morning.
Asked if the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise are among the areas that will be patrolled, Año said “yes.”
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Japanese State Minister for Defense Kenji Wakamiya led the turnover ceremony at the Naval Air Group headquarters in Sangley Point.
Japan has temporarily leased TC-90 patrol aircraft to the Philippines under several agreements in 2015 and 2016 pending another agreement that will allow Japan to donate the aircraft.
Read the full story at PhilStar