Bad weather stops military officials' visit to Pagasa Island

Top Philippine defense and military officials on Tuesday aborted a planned visit to the disputed Spratlys Islands reportedly due to bad weather and poor landing condition. Interviewed on Wednesday, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David and other military officials were supposed to inspect the facilities on the island and at the same time visit the troops stationed there. “We would have wanted to land in Pagasa (Island), but because of the poor landing condition, we did not push through," said Mabanta, who was with the group. Pagasa Island is part of the Spratlys that is occupied by Philippine forces. Mabanta said the next visit would depend on the availability of the military’s lone C-130 plane, the aircraft used in the trip. Mabanta also said there is a plan to rehabilitate the runway at Pagasa Island, which had been integrated as part of Palawan province. The Spratlys Islands is a chain of potential oil and mineral rich islands and islets being claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam. After the visit in Puerto Princesa City, the party flew to Camp Navarro, home of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, to lead a turnover ceremony there. - KBK, GMANews.TV