PCG: At least 6 Chinese underwater drones retrieved from PH waters so far

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday that "six or seven" underwater drones believed to have originated in China have been found so far in Philippine waters. 

“With regard to the drone, ito ay tinu-turnover sa Armed Forces of the Philippines. I’m not really sure about the accurate number, pero sa pagkaalam ko we have already retrieved as many as 6 or 7 underwater drones,” said PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. 

(With regard to the drone, these are turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I’m not really sure about the accurate number, but from what I know there were already six to seven underwater drones that there retrieved.) 

The PCG official said that it recently challenged two Chinese research vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone: one 151 nautical miles west off the coast of Itbayat, Zambales, and the other 40 to 45 nautical miles off the coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. 

“Nitong mga nakaraan, nagpalipad na tayo ng mga aircraft natin to monitor physically itong mga Chinese research vessel na ito. Based on our maritime domain awareness flight yesterday, dalawang research vessel ng China ang chinallenge ng ating aircraft at dinocument,” said Tarriela. 

(Just recently, we flew an aircraft to physically monitor these Chinese research vessels. Based on our maritime domain awareness flight yesterday, we challenged and documented two Chinese research vessels.) 

Outgoing senator Francis Tolentino earlier sounded the alarm over the reports of unmanned underwater drones that were being retrieved in Philippine waters. The Philippine Navy suggested that there could be more foreign underwater vessels within the country’s territory. 

The PCG pointed out that other southeast Asian countries, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have also reported sightings of underwater drones from China. 

“I think with the presence of these Chinese research vessels and the markings ng mga drones na nakikita natin dito sa mga na-retrieve na ‘to, there’s no other country na pwede nating pagdudahan na gumagawa nito,” said Tarriela.

(I think with the presence of these Chinese research vessels and the markings of the drones that we have retrieved, there’s no other country we can think of that could be behind this.) 

“And it’s not just here in the Philippine waters ang nakaka-experience nito, even Southeast Asian neighbors are experiencing and complaining about these drones na nare-recover nila. Pati Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia are also retrieving underwater drones na may Chinese markings.” 

(It’s not just the Philippines, but our southeast Asian neighbors are also experiencing and complaining about these drones. For instance, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia have also retrieved underwater drones with Chinese markings.) 

The PCG is hoping that the lawmakers in the 20th Congress will consider pushing for bills that will improve the maritime research capabilities of the country. 

“Paigtingin ang mga science institutes natin…para mas paigtingin yung capability nila and also in conducting marine scientific research. It’s about time for us to allocate funds para mapaayos yung kanilang capability whether its a research vessel or any other equipment,” said Tarriela. 

(We are hoping to improve the capability of our science institutes in conducting marine scientific research. It’s about time that we allocate funds to improve their capabilities whether it be providing them with a research vessel or any other equipment.) — BM, GMA Integrated News