Manila, Philippines: The Philippines does not suspect that hostile fire downed a military jet that disappeared during a rescue mission in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands two months ago, air force officials said today.

The Italian-made S-211 reconnaissance jet, flown by two pilots, has been missing since November 26 when it was sent to search for Filipino fishermen whose boat sank near the Spratlys, said Air Force Chief Lt Gen Pedrito Cadungog. China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, a vast chain of islands, reefs and shoals believed to be rich in oil and gas.

 Hostile fire was "definitely not involved or included in the possible causes we are considering," Cadungog told The Associated Press. Cadungog said the jet could not have been shot down by hostile fire because the Philippine air force jets are the only aircraft flying in that area, which is under Philippine control. He did not elaborate, and it was difficult to confirm his statement because several countries have overlapping claims in the vast region.

China and the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations adopted a nonbinding declaration in 2003 that forbids construction on uninhabited islands and other aggressive acts, in an effort to prevent territorial disputes from escalating.

The Philippine air force has continued looking for the jet despite weeks of so-far futile searching. The missing jet was one of two S-211s sent to help search for Filipino crewmen of a fishing vessel, which sank in stormy weather. 

Source : PTI