Tolentino: More foreign undersea drones may be in PH waters

Sen. Francis Tolentino on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, sounded the alarm over the possibility that foreign submersible drones have intruded into Philippine seas. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Francis Tolentino on Wednesday sounded the alarm over the possibility that foreign submersible drones have intruded into Philippine seas.

Tolentino raised this possibility as he presided over a hearing of the Senate panel on maritime and admiralty zones that took up the undersea drones found by Filipino fishermen.

“Palagay ko ito ay nagkalat sa buong Pilipinas sa ngayon habang tayo ay nagko-conduct ng hearing na ito,” said Tolentino.

(I think these are all over the country now as we are conducting this hearing.)

Tolentino’s panel took up the discovery of a submersible drone off the coast of Brgy. Inawaran, San Pascual, Masbate, as well as the alleged maritime spying activities conducted by six Chinese nationals and a Filipino in Subic, Zambales, who were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation last March 19.

READ: NBI: Foreign spies used drones to monitor PH-US naval assets

Reacting to Tolentino’s statement, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, did not deny such a possibility.

“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Trinidad.

At this point, Tolentino said these underwater drones could be hidden in Philippine waters, gathering information.

“Sa ngayon kung ito ay tip of the iceberg, siguro po lahat ng karagatan natin ay may mga ganitong nasa ilalim,” said Tolentino.

(If this is the tip of the iceberg, maybe all of our seas have submersible drones)

“Possible, Mr. Chair,” Trinidad replied to Tolentino.

The Senate panel  presented for the very first time actual submersible drones and a buoy found by Filipino fishermen off Philippine coast.

One of these drones, according to Trinidad, has the capability to send signals to China.

READ: Navy recently found drones in PH likely deployed by Chinese govt

There is 55 to 85 percent likelihood that this was deployed by the Chinese communist party,” Trinidad said in a regular military press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo last April 15.

According to him, there is also a “55 to 80 percent” likelihood that the four drones were made in China.