Senate to invite military, gov't officials in drone probe

The Senate is poised to invite officials of the military and foreign affairs to help shed light on the investigation into the submersible drone discovered off the waters of Masbate recently, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said yesterday.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Tolentino said he had already finalized and is set to file tomorrow the Senate resolution calling for the investigation into the six-foot drone, believed to be of Chinese origin, floating vertically at sea.

Local fishermen located the drone, which appeared to be made of PVC and metal, and was deactivated when it was found.

"(To be invited) include the Department of National Defense, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). I also want to include the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) to help. The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) is also included. And a few who became our resource persons when we outlined the very difficult maritime zones," Tolentino said over dwIZ radio.

The senator cited the potentially serious concerns of the drone's presence on Philippine maritime security and legal compliance.