Foreign drone found off Masbate a ‘threat, intrusion’ - DND

Metro Manila, Philippines – A submersible drone found off Masbate in December is a threat to national security and a violation of the country’s sovereignty, the Department of National Defense said on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Defense Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga told a Senate hearing about four similar incidents in the past: two in Calayan Island, Cagayan, and one each in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. No additional details were provided.

“Like in this particular case, no country has ever claimed such drones, but as far as the Department of National Defense [is concerned], we will always consider them, as a threat, as an intrusion on our sovereignty.

“Regardless whether it is commercial or military specification, we will always treat it as a threat to our sovereignty” Madriaga said in a hearing of the Senate special committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones.

Three fishermen found the yellow drone marked HY-119 in waters off San Pascual, Masbate, around 6 a.m. on Dec. 30. One of the fishermen, Rodnie Valenzuela, said during the hearing that they initially mistook the object for a buoy, brought it aboard their boat, and reported it to authorities later that afternoon.

PBGEN Jonathan Cabal, director of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, said the drone was made in China.

However, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said no country has claimed ownership of the drone. He noted that its presence in Philippine waters violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as it had no consent from the government.

“Violation ‘yan. So if China has it, we’re gonna protest… Kung inaamin niyong inyo yung drone na ‘yan (That’s a violation. So, if China owns it, we will file a protest. If you admit that drone is yours),” De Vega said.

For now, what is clear is that the drone is a data-gathering device for either commercial, scientific, or military purposes, said Ignacio.

“All the data that can be gathered can be considered as intelligence and information that has multipurpose use to the military and as far as the Defense Department is concerned, we are treating it as a national security matter…. We consider this as a violation of our territory,” he said.

“Hindi atin ito wala tayong ganito e. So, ibang bansa yung pinagbatuhan ng impormasyon (This isn't ours; we don't have anything like this. So, the information was sent to another country),” said Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, chairman of the special committee.

Officials said countries must secure a permit from a DFA-led technical working group before conducting marine scientific research in Philippine waters. Since 1998, the Philippines has granted 68 such applications, mostly from Japan.

De Vega said it is highly unlikely the Philippines would grant such a request from China, given the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea. “Very doubtful,” he said.

Justice Special Counsel Fretti Gachoon said filing a diplomatic protest against the drone's country of origin is an option. However, this would need to be supported by the findings of the investigation of the Philippine Navy.