Manila, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino on Wednesday voiced serious concern over the increasing number of unmanned underwater drones being recovered by fishermen in various parts of the Philippine maritime territory, warning that their presence could indicate broader, unknown surveillance activities.
Speaking during a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, Tolentino reacted strongly to the Philippine Navy’s disclosure that several submersible devices of unknown origin have been retrieved in waters off Batanes, Masbate, and Initao in recent years.
One of the more prominent recoveries was the HY-119, a bright yellow drone discovered off San Pascual, Masbate in January. The Navy confirmed it now holds multiple types of these drones and is conducting forensic examinations to determine their origin and purpose.
“What’s alarming is that this has become a recurring issue. For the past two years, we’ve received several reports from fishermen about similar equipment found at sea,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson.
When Tolentino asked whether these discoveries could indicate a larger issue, Trinidad responded that these findings were likely “only the tip of the iceberg.”
“If that’s the case, it’s possible that our entire maritime domain could be littered with these drones,” Tolentino said in Filipino.
Trinidad agreed, calling the possibility “very possible,” while assuring that the Navy uses advanced sensors capable of detecting even smaller underwater objects. However, he noted that current monitoring efforts heavily rely on fishermen and local communities for initial sightings.
Tolentino pushed for the creation of standardized reporting protocols for fisherfolk, possibly including incentives, to encourage prompt and accurate reporting of future sightings.
“Shouldn’t we have clear protocols for our fishermen? Maybe even a reward system?” Tolentino suggested.
The Navy said it is now working more closely with the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Police, and other maritime agencies to draft a common operating protocol for handling and identifying suspicious underwater gadgets.