(POLITIKO) Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada shared the worries of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. about the sighting of a Russian attack submarine in the West Philippine Sea.
“This situation is concerning, raising significant questions about the stability and security of our already volatile maritime domain, which is a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions,” Estrada said on Monday (Dec. 2).
Estrada said the presence of foreign military vessels in the country’s sovereign waters – whether from Russia or China – only escalates the situation in the South China Sea, which is considered a flashpoint for conflict.
“The presence of foreign military assets, especially those with offensive capabilities, increases the risk of misunderstandings and conflicts in an already sensitive region,” Estrada said.
“We urge the relevant authorities—the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of Foreign Affairs—to take immediate action and clarify the intentions behind this incursion,” he added.
According to reports, the Russian Navy’s Ufa, a Kilo II-class diesel-electric submarine, was spotted 148 kilometers west of Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28.