PHOTO: PNP Kasurog Bicol FB Page
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has asked the Senate to launch an investigation of the suspected Chinese underwater drone discovered over waters near Masbate province, as the issue raises many questions about the country’s territorial integrity.
Tolentino on Monday confirmed that he filed Senate Resolution No. 1267, urging the Senate special committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones to check on the drone labeled “HY-119,” which was discovered on December 30, 2024.
According to the senator, the color of the drone — yellow — reveals for now that the purpose of the submersible was scientific exploration.
“Maraming tanong na dapat sagutin, maraming himala na dapat malaman, maraming mga katanungang hindi pa natutugunan, and I was informed it will take eight weeks to have the inquiry of the Philippine Navy concluded. Nakita ito December 30, bilangin niyo ‘yong eight weeks, the whole January will be consumed by the investigation,” he said in a press briefing in the Senate complex.
(There are many questions that need to be answered, many mysteries that need to be uncovered, and many inquiries that have not been addressed. I was informed that it will take eight weeks to conclude the inquiry by the Philippine Navy. This was discovered on December 30, so if you count the eight weeks, the entire month of January will be consumed by the investigation.)
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“So ang haba ay 12 feet, noong drone, ang kulay ay dilaw. Ang purpose, scientific research, because of the colors. Ang kulay kasi ng scientific, dilaw at pula. Ang kulay ng military submersible drones, itim. Ang nakuha sa Masbate, dilaw,” he added.
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(The length of the drone is 12 feet, and its color is yellow. Its purpose is scientific research, as indicated by the colors. Scientific drones are typically yellow and red, while military submersible drones are black. The one found in Masbate is yellow.)
Tolentino said that some of the questions that should be answered include whether any laws were breached and if the deployment of the submersible had clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Tanong niyo siguro, meron bang nilabag? Tignan natin kung ano ‘yong madi-discover sa forensics. At siguro sa investigation dapat masagot din ng Department of Foreign Affairs kung merong permit sa coastal state, sang-ayon sa Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) para mag-conduct ng scientific at marine research, ang isang dayuhan,” he said.
(You might ask, is there a violation? Let’s see what the forensics will discover. And perhaps, through the investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs should also answer whether there was a permit from the coastal state, in accordance with Unclos, for a foreign entity to conduct scientific and marine research.)
“‘Yon ang lalabas sa investigation kung may permit. Patatawag natin ang (Department of) Foreign Affairs,” he added.
(That is what the investigation aims to uncover, if there was a permit. We will call on the DFA.)
According to police reports, three fishermen found the drone floating at sea and turned it over to authorities.
Police Regional Office – 5 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said the drone was not armed, but reports listed “potential national security implications” as one significance of its recovery.
READ: West PH Sea: Philippines recovers suspected Chinese submarine drone
Under Tolentino’s resolution, the drone’s origins must be determined, and it must be ascertained whether it complies with Republic Act No. 12063, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and R.A. No. 12065, or the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law.
“It is crucial to ascertain whether the drone’s presence constitutes a violation of Philippine laws, considering its discovery inside our archipelagic waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty,” he said in the resolution.
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“If proven that the discovered submersible drone was used by a foreign state to conduct underwater surveillance be it for military or as part of marine scientific research without the consent of the Republic of the Philippines, the same constitute a violation of our sovereignty,” he added.