President Ferdinand Marcos expressed concern on Monday over reports of a Russian submarine sighted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), describing any intrusion in the country’s territorial waters as a serious matter.
“That’s very concerning,” President Marcos told reporters when asked about the presence of the foreign vessel. “Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone), of our baselines is very worrisome.”
The president said he would let the military address the issue in further detail.
“We will let the military discuss it with you, but I don’t think it is a subject that we should… Let’s just wish a Merry Christmas to all of these people,” he said.
According to online reports, the Russian attack submarine was spotted surfacing in the WPS last week. It was later identified as the UFA 490, a Kilo II-class diesel-electric submarine from the Russian Navy.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the submarine was first detected on Nov. 28, approximately 148 kilometers west of Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro.
Upon receiving the report, the Philippine Navy immediately deployed assets to monitor and address the situation, ensuring the security of Philippine waters.
According to a report published by the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communications Foreign Information Service, the submarine was part of the joint passing exercise between Russia and Malaysia.
The WPS, part of the Philippines’ EEZ, has long been a flashpoint for territorial disputes involving several nations.
The sighting of the Russian submarine adds to growing tensions in the region, where Philippine officials have repeatedly raised concerns over foreign intrusions.
