Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday confirmed the landing of a Chinese military transport plane in Davao City, saying there was coordination with the Department of National Defense (DND).

In a text message to reporters, Lorenzana said the Ilyushin cargo aircraft or IL-76 was bound for China after it particip ated in Exercise Skytrain in New Zealand between the Chinese Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

“It landed at about 12 noon [on Saturday]. Yes, we know about it and it has prior clearance to land,” the Defense chief added.





“It is the same plane that landed in Davao [City] for New Zealand last June 8,” he said.

The cargo plane from the Chinese Air Force left Davao City International Airport at 2 p.m. on Saturday

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., commander of the military’s Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command, said the landing of the Chinese plane was approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

“It also coordinated with the DND. And that is not just the one landing there [in Davao airport] since planes from Indonesia, Austria and other countries are also making their landings there,” Madrigal told reporters in a phone-patch interview.

On June 8, the same plane made a landing also in Davao City for refueling, a move defended by Malacañang and the military.

Davao City is the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Three days later, the Chinese military plane arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, for Exercise Skytrain.

China state-run news agency Xinhua confirmed the “stops” made in the Philippines, as well as in Australia, before the plane proceeded to New Zealand.

It said such stops made in the Philippines and Australia were “in accordance” with regulations of the two countries and international norms.