Air exercises held on Navy ship bound for Russia

ABOARD BRP TARLAC in the West Philippine Sea – As this navy landing ship made its way out of Philippine waters en route to Vladivostok, its support helicopter made a series of takeoff and touch-down exercises in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal and Bolinao early yesterday morning.

“It’s just a routine maintenance flight to ensure that our helicopter is in top flying condition,” said LtJg Edward Pablico, of the Navy’s Public Affairs Office said, referring to BRP Tarlac’s AW109 helicopter.

The flight training as well as the deployment of BRP Tarlac (LD601) highlighted the Navy’s ongoing capability upgrade as part of the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

Capt. Estelito Lagadia Jr. commands the BRP Tarlac, which is part of Naval Task Force 87 under Capt. Florante Gagua.

Aside from BRP Tarlac acquired from Indonesia’s shipbuilder PT Pal, the Navy is awaiting delivery of two missile firing frigates being built for the Philippines by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries.

A ranking officer on BRP Tarlac pointed out that yesterday’s air exercises had nothing to do with the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea dispute.

“In a long voyage like this, we have to ensure that our air asset is in top shape,” said the official, who asked not be named, as he is not the designated spokesman of the voyage.

Panatag Shoal, which is only 120 nautical miles from Zambales and well within the country’s special economic zone, has been under China’s control since 2012.

The Philippines lost effective control over the shoal in 2012 after Chinese maritime surveillance vessels arrived in the area to help Chinese poachers escape with their illegal cargo of endangered corals, giant clams and baby sharks.

The Chinese have not left the shoal since then.

After a brief stop at the mouth of Manila Bay, BRP Tarlac began its 10-day voyage to Vladivostok, home of Russia’s Pacific fleet.

En route to Russia, the BRP Tarlac is closely monitoring weather conditions in the Pacific as a developing typhoon is heading for Luzon.

Navy weather trackers spotted a low-pressure area 1,735 kilometers east of Southern Luzon yesterday. The low-pressure area is expected to be 1,555 kilometers east of Central Luzon today.

By tomorrow, the developing storm – packing sustained maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 66 kph – would be moving north-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

By Wednesday, the storm is projected to be 645 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes – in the path of BRP Tarlac.