West PH Sea: Marcos says Russian submarine sighting ‘very worrisome’

RARE SIGHTING Contributed photo shows the Russian Navy’s Ufa submarine surfacing on Philippine waters last Thursday. The 74-meter-long vessel is capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles, which were used recently against Ukraine.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the recent sighting of a Russian attack submarine in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is “very worrisome.”

In an ambush interview in Marikina City, Marcos was asked to comment on a report of a Russian attack submarine being spotted in the WPS.

“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 told reporters.

READ: Russian attack sub spotted in West PH Sea

Asked how alarming the sighting was, he responded, “All of that is very concerning. Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ [exclusive economic zone], of our baselines is very worrisome. Yes, it’s just another one.”

In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report Monday, it said that military security sources confirmed the sighting of an underwater vessel, the Russian Navy’s Ufa, in the WPS.

It was first spotted 148 kilometers (80 nautical miles) west off Occidental Mindoro last November 28 and had come from Malaysia, the report said.