PH Navy eyes more anti-submarine assets

Following the detection of a Russian attack submarine in the West Philippine Sea last week, the Philippine Navy on Tuesday said it was seeking the acquisition of additional anti-submarine assets, including warships.

At a press conference, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Trinidad said the need to acquire more assets was already identified by the Navy years ago.

"We have submitted proposals for two more corvettes, I believe, or two more frigates," Trinidad said.

"These are multi, these are modern warfare ships that could conduct the four domains of warfare," he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday admitted it was initially alarmed when it detected the Russian attack submarine, saying that it was the first time that Filipino forces spotted an attack submarine in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without prior notice.

According to the National Security Council, the Russian attack sub (UFA 490) was seen traveling on the surface 80 nautical miles west off the Occidental Mindoro coast on November 28 and eventually left in the afternoon.

The submarine claimed it came from an exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy in Kota Kinabalu.

The Philippine Navy said its vessel, BRP Jose Rizal, then made a radio challenge to the Russian submarine where the latter said it was just waiting for the weather to improve before going back to its naval base in Vladivostok.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday said that the presence of the Russian attack submarine was "very worrisome." — VDV, GMA Integrated News