US-made drone falls in Masbate waters

NAGA CITY, Philippines — A 4-meter US-made drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle was recovered in the waters off Ticao Island in Masbate early Sunday morning by two fishermen, police said on Monday.

Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police chief, said the drone was seen drifting in the sea waters off Sitio Tacdugan in Barangay Bagahanglad in San Jacinto town by fishers Jolly Llacer and Ricky Cantoria.

The drone, commonly used for surveillance and reconnaissance, has a wingspan of 1. 76 meters and a height of about .71 meter, according to Olitoquit.

There was no information yet as to who owned the drone and why it fell into the waters off Masbate, said Olitoquit.

He said the two fishermen dragged the drone to the shoreline of San Jacinto without knowing what the object was.

The two fishermen then turned it over to village officials and to the town police, who immediately reported the recovery of the object to the police in the provincial headquarters.

Operatives from the Philippine National Police in Masbate province immediately rushed to inspect and secure the object.

Technical evaluation, Olitoquit said, identified the object as a US-made unmanned aerial vehicle or what has been commonly known as a drone.

He said it has the following technical descriptions:

*  Aerial Target Drone

*  BQM-74E Chuckar III

*  Part No.: 89500-517

*  Model: BQM 74E

*  Serial Number: BQ 55048

*  Contract No.: N00019-05-C0040

*  Cage No.: 77646

*  Acceptance Date: April 14, 2008