Chinese military plane refuels at Davao airport

DAVAO CITY – A Chinese military plane en route to New Zealand landed in this city last June 8 to refuel, military and palace officials confirmed yesterday.

Major Ezra L. Balagtey, public information officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), confirmed the incident after photos

of “Ilyushing Il-76,” a strategic airlifter of the Chinese military, circulated on social media.

Balagtey said the Chinese aircraft landed at the Davao International Aircraft at 11:30 a.m. last Friday and immediately left at 1 p.m. after refueling.

Likewise, President Duterte’s assistant Christopher Go confirmed that the foreign airplane was allowed to make the technical stop with certain conditions for compliance by the concerned party.

“There are reports from social media showing Chinese government plane landing in the Philippines. The request for landing was received, processed and cleared by relevant Philippine Government agencies,” Go said in a statement.

“The landing was requested for the specific purpose of refueling and was granted and given with specific conditions for compliance by the requesting party,” he added.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) Tactical Operations Group commanded, Lt. Col. Ritchie Pabilonia, said the request for landing was arranged by the Chinese attaché in Manila.

Go assured that such technical stops of government and commercial planes are closely coordinated by government agencies, citing “established domestic procedure and in consideration of existing agreements.”

“The same courtesy is extended to Philippine Government aircrafts when technical stops need to be undertaken,” he said.