The suspected Chinese drone recovered by fisherfolk in Masbate province was “non-operational” when it was found, according to the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.
The fishermen found the drone with the markings “HY-119” in the waters off San Pascual town, Masbate last Dec. 30. They turned it over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and subsequently to the Navy.
“It is currently undergoing forensic analysis which will last from six to eight weeks. Off-hand, I could say that it is bright yellow in color, 3.5 meters in length, 24 centimeters in diameter and weighs 94 kilograms,” Trinidad said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Trinidad reiterated that while the drone’s yellow color indicated possible research purposes, its presence still raised concerns for national security.
“Equipment such as this [is] used for gathering bathymetric data such as water temperature, the depth of water and salinity,” he said.
“The bathymetric information derived from these issues for academic research, for scientific research, for commercial purposes, and they also have military applications that will include undersea warfare,” he added.
Trinidad commended the Masbate fisherfolk for recovering and turning over the submersible drone to authorities, but he cautioned the public against speculating about its origins and objectives while the Navy’s investigation was ongoing.
“We have the appropriate unit, we conduct appropriate actions to study everything… It is a scientific approach. We don’t take these things lightly,” Trinidad assured.
“Whatever markings are there [do] not indicate anything. It has to be proven without reasonable doubt, hence the duration of six to eight weeks. Again, speculation is no substitute for evidence,” he stressed.
National Security Council spokesperson Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya on Monday said speculations of probing activities may be based on the fact that the San Bernardino Strait near Masbate was a “vital” entry point to the country from the Pacific Ocean.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Monday called for a congressional inquiry to investigate the submersible drone’s origins and its compliance with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act No. 12063) and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law (RA No. 12065).
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