Philippine authorities are carefully examining the Chinese-made submersible drone recovered near San Pascual, Masbate, which raised concerns over national security and Beijing’s interest in Manila’s underwater terrain.
Local fishermen discovered the torpedo-shaped drone, marked “HY-119,” which measures approximately two meters long and is equipped with fins, an antenna, and a camera. The Philippine National Police (PNP) turned over the device to the Philippine Navy for further analysis.
According to PNP Bicol regional director Brigadier General Andre Dizon, open-source research identifies HY-119 as part of a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system. He noted that the device is unarmed but could be used for monitoring and reconnaissance.
Dizon acknowledged that the drone has “potential national security implications,” a belief shared by Sealight director and retired US Air Force officer Ray Powell, suggesting that the drone might have been conducting seabed mapping for future submarine deployments.
“If this is a Chinese drone, as seems likely, it indicates a troubling level of Chinese interest in the Philippines’ internal archipelagic waters,” Powell said.
“[It] could mean that China intends to deploy submarines into Philippine waters, or perhaps wants to have that option, if conflict breaks out. Regardless, this incident highlights the importance for a maritime nation to develop a high level of undersea domain awareness,” he added.
National security expert Dr. Chester Cabalza emphasized the strategic importance of Masbate, which lies between Luzon and Visayas, near key areas like the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Benham Rise.
“The artifacts of drones in the underwater shores of Masbate signal that the Chinese can enter our internal waters compromising our sovereignty and territorial integrity in the midsection of the archipelagic Philippines,” Cabalza told the Manila Standard.
Masbate is politically part of the Bicol region, but lies at the crossroads of Luzon and Visayas island groups, overlooking vital routes in the WPS and Benham Rise. Its marine resources and mineral-rich lands make it a strategic hotspot, according to Cabalza.
