Photo credit: Philippine Navy via PTV

A Russian submarine made a rare appearance 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro, sparking swift action from the Philippine government.

Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the National Security Council, shared the lowdown on the encounter.
According to Malaya, the Philippine Navy wasted no time and deployed the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), a frigate equipped with anti-submarine warfare capabilities, to check things out.

Here's how it all went down: The BRP Jose Rizal made radio contact with the submarine, which identified itself, confirmed its crew count, and explained its navigational plans. Turns out, the submarine had just wrapped up exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and was en route to its home base in Vladivostok, Russia.

“They surfaced because of weather conditions,” Malaya explained, adding that the Russian crew assured they’d notify Philippine authorities before heading out. True to their word, the submarine sailed back to Russia later that afternoon.

The submarine’s location? It wasn’t within the Philippines’ territorial waters but inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which allows for international freedom of navigation. Still, the Philippine Navy wasn’t about to take any chances.

“We challenged the submarine,” Malaya said, referring to the standard radio protocol to confirm its purpose. “It all went smoothly, and we monitored the situation closely.”
While the encounter ended on a good note, it highlights the importance of vigilance in our waters.