Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Wednesday called for increased public vigilance after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released forensic findings on submersible drones recently recovered across the country.
“The government derives its strength from the unity of the people. We can serve our country’s interests by promptly reporting any suspicious equipment or activities we may come across, especially in our coastlines,” he said.
The AFP’s tests confirmed that the devices pose a national security concern, supporting earlier findings from a Senate inquiry led by Tolentino in January.
The investigation began after fishermen discovered one such underwater drone in San Pascual, Masbate on December 30, 2024.
“The forensic results affirm the initial findings of our Senate probe that this is a national security concern,” Tolentino said.
“What is apparent is that China has been deploying these drones to study our seabed and map out our underwater terrain to gather critical data for scientific, commercial, or military use,” the senator added.
As chair of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, Tolentino has been actively pushing for stronger maritime defense policies.
He emphasized that national security is a shared responsibility and encouraged citizens to report any suspicious activity or equipment, especially in coastal areas.
Tolentino also advised the public to immediately turn over such discoveries to local authorities or police.
He cited the examples of fishermen Jojo Cantela, Rodnie Valenzuela, and Jeric Arojado, who promptly reported their drone discovery to officials.
“This development should further bolster our efforts to protect the West Philippine Sea, and to continue to assert through legal and diplomatic means our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zones and resources,” Tolentino said.
