TWENTY brand-new F16 Viper fighter jets that the Philippines wants to acquire from the United States may be delivered in tranches starting next year, Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said yesterday.
However, the acquisition will depend on the “terms,” he also said.
The US Defense Cooperation Agency, an office under the US Department of Defense, last week announced the approval of the Philippine request to buy 20 F-16 fighter jets, with an estimated cost of $5.58 billion or nearly P320 billion.
Days later, Romualdez said the Philippines is eyeing US financing and the Armed Forces modernization budget to fund the acquisition that also includes beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, short range air-to-air missiles, precision guided munitions for ground attacks, radars, spare parts and engines.
“These will be available for delivery sometime next year or 2027, the succeeding ones,” Romualdez said of the jets in an interview with radio dzBB yesterday, adding the F16s that will be acquired will be the latest model or block.
“It will depend on the terms, if affordable to us, and if it is approved by our Congress and the President, then we will have our own F16s. But that is an offer as part of our AFP modernization program,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
The announcement of the approval followed the visit to Manila of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during which he announced the Trump administration’s “iron-clad” commitment to its treaty ally and support to help modernize the capabilities of the Philippine military to help deter the growing Chinese aggression in South China Sea.
Romualdez, in the radio interview, said continuing aggressive activities by China in the West Philippine Sea is one of the main driving forces for the AFP modernization program, including the planned purchase of the US-made jets.
“China is our biggest challenge, especially since it is challenging our sovereignty… So, that is the reason why we are now really working at getting our Air Force and Armed Forces to be modernized so we can defend ourselves,” he added.
Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships have blocking and harassing Philippine vessels conducting routine maritime patrols and resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea in the past years.
Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, of which the West Philippine Sea is a part, despite losing an arbitral case filed by Manila in 2016.
The arbitral panel junked China’s excessive maritime claim in the disputed waters, saying its so-called nine dash line has no legal or historical basis.
Beijing earlier said the Philippines’ procurement of the US-made jets should not be aimed at any country.
‘RECKLESS MANEUVER’
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) accused a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel of attempting to cause a collision with a PCG vessel yesterday afternoon in the West Philippine Sea.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the CCG vessel, with bow number 3302, initially conducted “reckless and dangerous maneuvers” against the PCG vessel BRP Cabra, “displaying a blatant disregard for safety.”
“An alarming incident this afternoon (Sunday) involved an attempted head-on collision with the smaller PCG vessel, raising concerns about the China Coast Guard’s adherence to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea of which they are a signatory,” Tarriela said in a statement.
“It is only through the seamanship skills and professionalism of the crew of BRP Cabra that such collision was narrowly averted,” added Tarriela.
Despite the provocative actions of the Chinese vessel, Tarriela said, the PCG vessel maintained a “composed and professional approach, prioritizing safety and the prevention of any untoward incidents.”
He said PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan emphasized to PCG personnel in the West Philippine Sea the importance of asserting the Philippine sovereignty and sovereign right without escalating tensions.
“This directive aligns with the explicit guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reinforcing the commitment of the PCG to uphold national interests while maintaining peace in the West Philippine Sea,” said Tarriela.
In a statement on Saturday night, Tarriela said BRP Cabra “boldly confronted” CCG 3302 earlier on Saturday off Zambales.
It was the same Chinese vessel that water cannoned in December last year a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya, in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, some 124 nautical from mainland Zambales.
In February also last year, CCG 3302 and three other CCG vessels subjected to dangerous and blocking maneuvers a PCG vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, also in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, the Chinese have prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
CHALLENGE
Tarriela said BRP Cabra issued a radio challenged CCG vessel 3302 last Saturday “to prevent it from moving closer to the coast.”
He said the Chinese vessel was detected approaching within 83-85 nautical miles off the coast of Palauig town in Zambales.
“The 44-meter BRP Cabra boldly confronted the larger 99-meter CCG vessel, asserting its rightful presence within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” he said.
“The radio challenge emphasized that the CCG’s illegal patrol violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” added Tarriela.
UNCLOS provides coastal states like the Philippines a 200 nautical miles exclusive EEZ. That coastal state has the exclusive rights to explore and exploit natural resources within its EEZ.
In a statement yesterday, Tarriela said BRP Cabra “effectively pushed” CCG 3302 to about 92 to 96 nautical miles off the coast of Capones Island, also in Zambales.
“This demonstrates the PCG’s commitment to safeguarding Philippine maritime interests and preventing the normalization of unlawful activities by the People’s Republic of China in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Tarriela said BRP Cabra has continuously challenged the Chinese vessel, reiterating the “illegitimacy of their (Chinese) actions.”
He said the Chinese vessel “continues to claim that it is engaged in lawful maritime operations.” – With Victor Reyes
