Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) — Lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday filed a resolution calling on the foreign affairs committee to investigate “covert” flights of American military planes in the country.
In House Resolution No. 1117, Makabayan bloc members maintained that the Constitution prohibits foreign military bases, troops, or facilities in the country unless approved by the Senate.Two US military aircraft were reportedly spotted in the country’s territory just last week.On July 7, a US Air Force C-17 landed in Manila before heading to Japan, while the other a Boeing C-17 plane seen north of Busuanga, Palawan appeared to be flying toward Polillo Island before exiting the Philippine territory.The lawmakers also cited Senator Imee Marco’s inquiry into another US-owned and operated Boeing C-17 aircraft’s “unadvised” landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 26.“The presence of foreign military forces, including of the United States military in the Philippine territory raises concerns regarding the extent of foreign intervention and potential threats to national sovereignty and security,” said representatives of ACT Teachers Party-List, GABRIELA Women’s Party, and KABATAAN Party-List.
Senator Imee Marcos over the weekend urged defense and foreign affairs officials to increase monitoring of US military planes in the country to determine if such covert flights aggravated the “already tense” situation in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
ACT Teachers Party-List Representative France Castro earlier stated that the Philippines is turning into a US military base with the recently reported presence of American military planes.
