US turns over two Cessna Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft Thursday

July 26, 2017

The United States will formally turn over two Cessna -208B Caravan Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft it donated to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a ceremony in Villamor Airbase on Thursday. The turnover and blessing ceremonies will be led by US Ambassador Sung Kim,  Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other military officials. Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, said the two new planes that recently arrived were donated by the US to the Philippines “under the maritime security initiatives.” He emphasized its importance in enhancing the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability of the AFP. “These aircraft has the capability to take pictures and to conduct survey to know the information and detail on the ground,” Padilla said. "This will give us capability to monitor our sea and areas where we will need information like the coastal areas, open seas if we have to monitor if there are ship that are illegally entering our territory and other areas where we need to know the details on the ground,” Padilla added. Padilla said the planes can be used to monitor the southern borders for possible movement of terrorists and illegal goods. (Robina Asido/DMS)