By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Monday filed a resolution seeking to look into the potential threats posed by the recovered submersible drone off the coast of Barangay Inawaran, San Pascual, Masbate.
In a press briefing, Tolentino said he filed Senate Resolution No. 1267 for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to confirm if the device, which was recovered within the country’s exclusive economic zone, was given a permit.
The senator believes that the 12-foot submersible drone found by local fisherfolk last Dec. 30 is for research purposes because of its color.
“Ang kulay kasi ng scientific, dilaw at pula. Ang kulay ng military sa submersible drones, itim. Ang nakuha sa Masbate dilaw (Because the colors for scientific are yellow and red. The color of military for submersible drones is black. The one recovered in Masbate is yellow),” Tolentino explained.
“Sa investigation, dapat masagot din ng Department of Foreign Affairs kung merong permit sa coastal state sang-ayon sa UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and Pilipinas para mag-conduct ng marine research ang isang dayuhan (In the investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs must also answer if there is a permit from the coastal state in accordance with the UNCLOS and the Philippines for a foreigner to conduct a marine research),” he added.
SRN 1267 directs the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, which is also chaired by Tolentino, to probe the incident.
“Maraming tanong na dapat sagutin. Maraming himala na dapat malaman. Maraming mga katanungang hindi pa natutugunan (There are many questions that need to be answered. There are many miracles that need to be known. There are still many questions that need to be answered),” Tolentino said, saying he was informed that the ongoing investigation of the Philippine Navy on the incident would take eight weeks.
“It can be a prelude to a research that would probably lead to something bigger than the research itself,” he added.
Tolentino called on Filipino fisherfolk to be vigilant and immediately surrender to authorities any devices they may find off the country’s coast. (PNA)
