Increased US aircraft presence in PH due to Cope Thunder drills —Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said the reported increased presence of US aircraft in the country was due to the conduct of the 2023 Cope Thunder exercise. 

In a press conference, PAF spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo pointed out that all these US aircraft have diplomatic clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“As far as the Air Force is concerned, the increased presence of aircraft is due to their involvement in Cope Thunder exercises,” Castillo said.

Cope Thunder is a joint exercise of the US Air Force and Philippine Air Force. The second iteration, which is ongoing until July 21, focuses on large force deployment of aircraft. 

Castillo made the statement when asked about the call of Senator Imee Marcos to equally monitor such assets in the country.

For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said it is essential for the AFP to monitor all assets.

“When it comes to monitoring, inherent sa trabaho natin na i-monitor lahat. When it comes to entry of aircraft, there is also a process involved,” he said.

(When it comes to monitoring, it is inherent to our job to monitor all these. When it comes to the entry of aircraft, there is also a process involved.)

“But with due courtesy to the good senator, she's also a government official, I think she deserves to receive a response directly from us,” he added.

In June, Senator Imee Senator Imee filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged unadvised landing of a US military aircraft in Manila on June 26.

In Senate Resolution 667, she questioned the purpose of the arrival of a Boeing C-17 strategic transport aircraft operated by the US military in Manila when its main destination was Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

On July 7, Senator Imee said the US Embassy admitted that flight planners did not coordinate with NAIA ground handlers.

According to her, the US Embassy said that the arrival of the US military plane had diplomatic clearance from the DFA.

She said she received a letter from the US Embassy dated July 6 in which US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson gave a summary of the landing of a Boeing C-17 transport aircraft in Manila. —KG, GMA Integrated News