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MANILA, Philippines – A sea drone from the United States (US) washed up on a beach at Masinloc, Zambales on Friday, November 11.
The drone was recovered by Filipino fishermen who were sailing back to Masinloc, according to a GMA-7 News TV Live report.
Photos sent by Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Masinloc chief Dario Diaz, showed that the yellow sea drone was labelled as an “oceanographic instrument” of the National Oceanographic Office of the US.
The drone also contained the email address navociano.cdo@navy.mil.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Restituto Padilla said the fishermen should turn over the drone to the Philippine Coast Guard.
"Dapat ay masarin rin ng mga mangingisda ang exact location kung saan ito nakita (The fishermen should also determine the exact location where the drone was recovered)," said Padilla, adding a similar drone was recovered along the shores of Infanta, Quezon.
"Maaaring natangay lang ito ng alon mula sa ibang lugar. Hindi natin masasabi," he said. (It may have just been washed off from another place. We can't tell.)
Several other US drones have washed up on Philippine shores over the years, including a US Navy drone that was recovered on January 4, 2015 as well as another drone that washed up on a beach in Masbate two years before.
The Communist Party of the Philippines had condemned what it said was evidence of "continuing US surveillance and intervention in the country.”
The AFP, however, dismissed as "highly speculative" claims that the drones were used for surveillance. – Rappler.com