MANILA (UPDATED) — Philippine authorities are coordinating with foreign counterparts to determine the origin and purpose of a remotely operated submersible drone discovered off the coast of Masbate last December 30, the National Security Council said Friday.

The underwater drone is believed to be of Chinese origin, police and military officials said this week.

Navy investigates origin, purpose of underwater drone recovered in Masbate

“Obviously, itong drone na ito is used for reconnaissance and surveillance, so it is imperative to the Philippines to determine saan ito nanggaling at anong ginagawa nito sa ating archipelagic waters,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a televised briefing.

(Obviously, this is a drone used for reconnaissance and surveillance, so it is imperative for the Philippines to determine where it came from and what it was doing in our archipelagic waters)

“We are also coordinating closely with foreign counterparts para makakuha pa tayo ng additional information dito,” he said.

(We are also coordinating closely with foreign counterparts for additional information on this)

The Philippines has, in the face of aggressive behavior by China in the West Philippine Sea, increased engagement with the US, as well as Australia, Canada, France, Japan and the UK. 

'TOO EARLY TO MAKE CONCLUSIONS'

Malaya said that it is still too early to make conclusions regarding the drone, which is in the custody of the Philippine Navy.

Based on initial reports, the drone was marked HY-119, which refers to a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system.

 “It could’ve come from anywhere, kaya ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay dine-determine natin itong drone na ito, saan ba ito nanggaling, ano ang specifics nito, kung ano ang mga vessels na dumaan sa lugar na 'yan, para ma-determine natin kung saan talaga nanggaling,” Malaya said.

(It could have come from anywhere so we are trying to determine where it came from, which vessels passed through that area, to determine where it really came from)

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines' investigations is ongoing and the drone's country of origin is still unknown.

“Hindi pa alam ang susunod na hakbang, hayaan [natin] ang mga investigators to come to a definitive conclusion tungkol sa pinagmulan ng drone na ito.”

(We don't know that the next steps are yet. Let's let the investigators come to a definitive conclusion on the drone's origins)

SENATOR TO SEEK SENATE HEARINGS

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino said he will file a resolution for the Senate to hold its own investigation into “the origins and implications of the drone's presence in Philippine waters.”

He said the hearings will also look into whether drones fall under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, which require foreign vessels to use designated sea lanes.

Although the NSC believes the drone was used for surveillance, Tolentino also said that “drones used for marine scientific research within Philippine maritime zones must comply with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.”

That law requires marine scientific research to comply with local laws and with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also requires government authorization for any research in Philippine waters.

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