Navy: Chinese sea drone not alarming
THE Philippine Navy on Thursday said it is not alarmed over the suspected Chinese submarine drone that was recovered off Masbate by fishermen last Dec. 30. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy's spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the yellow drone, which was found floating in shallow waters in Barangay Inarawan, San Pascua town, will be analyzed to determine its country of origin and technical specifications. It had the markings HY-119 on its side. The unmanned underwater drone found by three fishermen in Masbate. PHOTO COURTESY OF PNP-BICOL The drone was found by three fishermen led by Ronnie Valenzuela. "We need to do further analysis on it to determine where it originated, its purpose, and what was the drone doing there," Trinidad said. He initially described the object as a submersible used in research or in tracking fish. "Usually bright colors like yellow, red, orange, these are for scientific research or for fishing use, like tracking of schools of fish. They are designed to be seen from the air," Trinidad said. "So this is not alarming," Trinidad said. The object was initially thought to be an undersea drone which the Chinese use as a navigational or communication aid. It was 2.72 meters long, with a rudder and a small antennae-like wire. Security expert Rene de Castro, however, said the drone could be a military device. "It's for military purposes. Maybe it's for operation, surveillance of the underwater terrain for submarine operations. So this could be for submarine warfare, and I'm not surprised about it because China is mad at us," De Castro said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Philippine Navy on Thursday said it is not alarmed over the suspected Chinese submarine drone that was recovered off Masbate by fishermen last Dec. 30.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy's spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the yellow drone, which was found floating in shallow waters in Barangay Inarawan, San Pascua town, will be analyzed to determine its country of origin and technical specifications.
It had the markings HY-119 on its side. The unmanned underwater drone found by three fishermen in Masbate. PHOTO COURTESY OF PNP-BICOL
The drone was found by three fishermen led by Ronnie Valenzuela.
"We need to do further analysis on it to determine where it originated, its purpose, and what was the drone doing there," Trinidad said.
He initially described the object as a submersible used in research or in tracking fish.
"Usually bright colors like yellow, red, orange, these are for scientific research or for fishing use, like tracking of schools of fish. They are designed to be seen from the air," Trinidad said.
"So this is not alarming," Trinidad said. The object was initially thought to be an undersea drone which the Chinese use as a navigational or communication aid.
It was 2.72 meters long, with a rudder and a small antennae-like wire.
Security expert Rene de Castro, however, said the drone could be a military device.
"It's for military purposes. Maybe it's for operation, surveillance of the underwater terrain for submarine operations. So this could be for submarine warfare, and I'm not surprised about it because China is mad at us," De Castro said.
