An underwater drone suspected to be of Chinese origin was recovered in the waters off San Pascual, Masbate, on Monday, the Bicol police reported.
The drone, marked with “HY-119,” was discovered by three fishermen near Barangay Iniwaran’s coast at around 6:15 a.m. The area is approximately nine kilometers from the town proper.
Barangay officials received the drone after the fishermen turned it over and subsequently brought it to the municipal police for further investigation.
The device is reportedly a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system, capable of facilitating communication between underwater vessels and surface units or satellites. It also supports the transmission of data, voice messages, and navigation information.
Authorities are still determining how long the drone had been in Philippine waters before its recovery.
