Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has expressed concern over national security following the discovery of an underwater drone near the coast of Masbate.
Tolentino emphasized that national security encompasses more than military issues, including economic and food security.
Initial reports suggest the drone, believed to have originated from China, may have been deployed by a large vessel and was possibly deactivated before drifting ashore.
Tolentino noted that weather disturbances and ocean currents might have brought the drone to San Pascual, Masbate.
The drone is suspected to have capabilities for collecting data on seabed composition, marine life, and potential resources, raising concerns about unauthorized surveying and future exploitation of Philippine resources.
In response, Tolentino filed a Senate resolution seeking an investigation into the drone’s origin, operations, and whether its activities were authorized by the Philippine government.