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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 June) — The Chinese military aircraft Ilyushing Il-76 which landed here on June 8 to refuel en route to New Zealand made an almost two-hour layover at the Davao International Airport on Saturday on its way back to China.
Major Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) public information officersaid the Chinese military plane landed at 12:15 p.m.and departed immediately for China at 2 p.m.
The aircraft, a Soviet Union-designed strategic airlifter, was en route to New Zealand when it landed here on June 8 to refuel.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, in a statement on June 10, said the landing request was “received, processed and cleared by relevant Philippine Government agencies” and was made “for the specific purpose of refueling.”
He said similar courtesy is extended to Philippine government aircrafts when technical stops are necessary.
Go said “technical stops by foreign government and commercial planes, including for refueling purposes, are closely coordinated by our relevant Government agencies following established domestic procedure and in consideration of existing agreements.”
He assured the Departments of National Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and other relevant agencies will work to ensure the requesting party complies with domestic procedures and requirements. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)