US jets in RP to refuel

US Air Force jets are to arrive in the Philippines for a brief refueling stopover this week, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesman said yesterday.

"There is a notice for re-fueling of three airplanes, but there is no definite day yet," PAF spokesman Col. Horacio Lapinid said, adding that the jets were expected to fly in this week.

Under an existing treaty, Washington has "blanket authority to fly over" the Philippines’ air space anytime, Lapinid said, noting that it only needs "prior coordination" with the foreign office.

He said the US government did not say whether the US air force planes stopping over would be joining the American troop buildup ahead of a looming military strike on Afghanistan for harboring alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

"They (US authorities) do not usually state that in their request; they will lose the element of surprise," he said.

The visiting jets would likely use the former Clark air force base in Zambales or the Mactan International Airport in Cebu, now known as the Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapinid said.

Neither did the military specify what type of planes would be arriving in the next few days.

President Arroyo has expressed the Philippines’ full backing to the US-led global war on terrorism, with National Security Adviser Roilo Golez warning yesterday of a long-drawn campaign.

"The situation is very volatile and we cannot predict the movement of the coalition (against terrorism), except to say that in general, it’s going to be a long-drawn campaign," Golez said. – Christina Mendez