An IL-76 transport plane also landed in Davao International Airport on June 8, 2018. (MFR image)

Palace officials said the second Chinese airplane spotted landing at the Davao City International Airport (DIA) last Saturday was the same aircraft mentioned in social media posts two weeks ago and it landed only to refuel.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go dismissed any irregularity in the landing since the same courtesy is also given to the country “whenever our aircraft needed to refuel,” Go said in an event yesterday in Taguig City.

The aircraft that landed at DIA last June 8 was an IL-76 transport plane of the China People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also dismissed apprehension over the incident.

According to Lorenzana, the plane was the same aircraft which landed at the Davao International Airport (DIA) last June 8.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua also assuaged worries over the landings of China’s air assets since Beijing has only good intentions for a “good neighbor.”

Go said “technical stops” by foreign government and commercial planes, including

those for refueling purposes, are closely coordinated by relevant government agencies, following domestic procedure and in consideration of existing agreements.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the public protocols were followed during the pitstop.

“All licenses, permits and protocols were issued and observed,” Roque said.

Lorenzana added there was prior coordination between Philippine authorities and the Chinese regarding the stopover.

“Yes, it landed at about 12 noon today. Yes, we know about it and it has prior clearance to land. It is the same plane that landed in Davao for NZ (New Zealand) last June 8,” Lorenzana said.

“This time it refueled and left at 2 p.m.,” he added.

Duterte administration critics earlier took the first landing on June 8 of the Chinese cargo aircraft as an opportunity to hit the government.

Lorenzana, however, stressed there was nothing irregular to the refueling of the Chinese aircraft at DIA, stressing Philippine aircraft also does the same in other countries with prior coordination.

Malacanang also said the Chinese made prior coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) before the aircraft landed for refueling.

Again on Saturday, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, a former Marine captain and a staunch critic of Mr. Duterte particularly in the West Philippine Sea issue, questioned the landing of the Chinese aircraft despite previous explanation from Malacañang and Lorenzana.