Is the drone “HY 119” a research vessel, or could it be a military weapon from a foreign country?

This was among the questions asked by Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘TOL’ Tolentino at today’s Senate inquiry on the submersible drone recovered off the coast of Masbate by a group of fishermen last December 30.

Tolentino, the Chairperson of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, said that it is critical for the Philippine Navy to generate concrete findings from its ongoing investigation of the drone to address concerns raised by security and diplomatic officials during the Senate hearing.

The senator said that the six-foot-long yellow colored drone could be a foreign power-made “Sea Wing” glider – a data-gathering vessel that could serve various purposes, including maritime survey and scientific research. Initial findings indicate that the drone is capable of transmitting data and communicating with satellites and sea and land based sources.

But pending the results of the Navy’s probe, Tolentino said he is not discounting that the drone could be a tool for military surveillance and espionage, or even as a remotely controlled weapon. He further noted that modern warfare, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, are being fought with the use of military drones.

“Is this drone a sovereign property? Is this a warship that should be given sovereign recognition by a coastal state, which is the Philippines?” he asked. “Is it an autonomous vessel? Is this drone part of a research mission that originated from a mother ship? Is it part of another country’s intrusion into our waters, including espionage?”

“That’s why the findings of the Navy would be critical, because this would lay the basis for the next actions of the Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs,” the senator stressed.

Tolentino said that the Philippine Navy’s probe and the parallel inquiry started by the Senate would guide lawmakers in “upgrading” the country’s laws to define unmanned vessels, address their incursion in the country’s territorial waters, and upgrade the capability of the coast guard and navy to detect and intercept unmanned vehicles and drones.

The senator added: “I think this would likewise result in some circulars coming from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that would guide and instruct our fisherfolk on how to handle situations when they encounter such devices.”

He then acknowledged the three fisherfolk from San Pascual, Masbate – Rodnie Valenzuela, Jojo Cantela, and Egay Arojado – for turning over the drone to police authorities after they recovered it off the cost of Barangay Iniwaran on December 30.

“No matter how advanced the technologies may be from wherever this came from, Mr. Valenzuela’s group showed that the courage of the Filipino fisherfolk prevails,” he said, referring to the three fishermen, who were present during the hearing.