One last time: Golez casts doubt on Chinese military plane in Davao
MANILA, Philippines — Roilo Golez, former national security adviser and Parañaque representative, raised several questions on a Chinese military transport aircraft that landed in Davao City last week.
Golez discussed the matter in an interview with radio dzRH Monday morning. It turned out to be his last interview before passing away.
He succumbed to a heart attack hours later.
In the interview, Golez asked why neither the Armed Forces of the Philippines nor the Department of Foreign Affairs seemed aware that an Ilyushin IL-76 strategic airlifter of the People's Liberation Army Air Force landed in Davao City to refuel.
The former national security adviser stressed that the government should have released a bulletin that a Chinese military aircraft would land in the country to allay speculations.
"This isn't usual. It's a very large airplane of the PLA Air Force so many people speculated about it. This isn't an ordinary landing by a small airplane so it's important for the government to be transparent," Golez told dzRH in Filipino.
Golez also asked if freight was loaded or unloaded when the Chinese aircraft was in President Rodrigo Duterte's home town.
"I heard in the news that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said nobody got off the aircraft. The Bureau of Immigration should also certify it," he said.
The Chinese plane's supposed route also appears to be confusing.
An initial report said that the aircraft was going to Cairns, Australia from China while another report said it was flying home from Australia.
He noted that a fully-loaded IL-76 only has a radius of 3,000 kilometers and would definitely need to refuel in Davao before heading to its destination, if it was from China going to Australia.
Following reports that Beijing has landed bombers in the Paracels and a military transport plane on Mischief Reef, there is a need for the government to be transparent on these matters, he said.
"They should have announced it immediately to calm people down and to stop speculation," he said, adding that the government took a while to confirm the landing.
In a Twitter post on Sunday, Golez also asked which government agencies handled the protocols of the Chinese aircraft's landing.
"The military per news not aware of CH plane landing. DFA said it did not know when first asked. So which government agencies handled the protocols? CAAP? This is mysterious," Golez said.
Refueling was apparently not part of Mutual Logistics Support Agreement like that between PH & US. The military per news not aware of CH plane landing. DFA said it did not know when first asked. So which government agencies handled the protocols? CAAP? This is mysterious. https://t.co/yRYmnxJyCJ
— Roilo Golez (@roilogolez) June 10, 2018
Did plane load or offload cargo? That must be clarified, should be made transparent. What was its route & why was Davao along route? Indonesia or Australia to China? It has range of 3,000 kms to 7,000 kms depending on load. It must have come from far point to require refueling. https://t.co/yRYmnxJyCJ
— Roilo Golez (@roilogolez) June 10, 2018
Golez has been a staunch advocate of the Philippines' rights over the South China Sea.
He was a regular lecturer at the National Defense College of the Philippines and was one of the three convenors of the West Philippine Sea Coalition.
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