President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.  witnesses a live demonstration during the Philippine Navy's (PN) first-ever anti-air warfare capabilities  exercise off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales on May 19, 2023. Joey Razon, PNA/FileMANILA — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday admitted the country has "modest capabilities" to detect underwater threats, following the detection of a Russian attack submarine last week when it surfaced in waters off Cape Calavite in Occidental Mindoro. 

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy on West Philippine Sea matters, said the military has no information on when the Russian submarine, identified as UFA 490, arrived, as it was only spotted when it surfaced on November 28. 

This was the first time the Philippines had detected a submarine in its waters. 

“We were concerned when we first detected the Russian submarine,” Trinidad told reporters during a weekly briefing. 

“The concern, the alarm, was due to the initial detection of the submarine. It’s not every day that we detect a submarine in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). It is understandable that even our personnel were surprised to find a submarine here,” he added. 

The Navy's BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) established radio communication with the submarine, which confirmed its identity, crew complement, and navigational intent. 

The submarine had come from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for an exercise and was heading back to Vladivostok, Russia. 

It stated that it would only refuel and recharge its batteries. A Russian rescue tanker and a support vessel subsequently responded to the submarine, according to Trinidad. 

The Russian submarine left Philippine waters on Monday, exiting via the northern part of the country. 

Trinidad said the Navy has been continuously improving its modernization efforts, which include enhancing capabilities in undersea warfare.

“We have modest capabilities to detect underwater threats,” Trinidad said. “The need for such capabilities has been recognized by the Philippine Navy for years, which is why our Re-Horizon 3 already includes additional frigates, more ships, and other anti-submarine capabilities.” 

The Horizon 3 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) focuses on improving the military’s archipelagic defense capabilities. 

NOT A THREAT 

Meanwhile, maritime law expert Prof. Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, stated that the sighting of the Russian submarine can't be considered a threat. 

“It cannot be a threat because the submarine was on the surface,” he said in a telephone interview. “Since it was on the surface, it was actually announcing its presence.” 

Batongbacal, however, praised the Philippines' improved capability in detecting the submarine. 

Russian attack submarine spotted in West Philippine Sea is 'worrisome': Marcos 

Under international law, foreign vessels can freely pass through waters that do not fall within a country’s territorial waters, provided they do not conduct economic activities at least 200 nautical miles from any country’s coast. 

The high seas refer to waters beyond 200 nautical miles from a country’s coast.

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