00:00The Philippine Navy has released findings of the three out of five submersible drones recorded or recovered in different parts of the Philippine waters.
00:11The drones bear Chinese markings and one was even found using a China Telecom SIM card.
00:18RPTV's Patrick DeSouz has the report.
00:23Out of five submersible drones recovered in different parts of Philippine waters, the Philippine Navy.
00:30It has released findings for three of them.
00:33This includes one that was found in Pasukin, Ilokos Norte on July 2022, and others recovered last year in Kalayan Island and in Itaumisamis Oriental.
00:44Based on forensic analysis, the drones bear Chinese markings and one even used a China Telecom SIM card.
00:52There is a strong likelihood that they were from and were deployed by the Chinese government.
00:57There is a 55 to 80 percent likelihood that this was deployed by the Chinese Communist Party.
01:06Why 55 to 80 percent?
01:08It's because of the components inside.
01:10They have the capability to receive, to process, to store, and to transmit data through satellite communications to a station on land, to a mothership, or to other drones.
01:22The Navy adds, the information possibly gathered by these drones has implications on national security.
01:30In today's generation of warfare, information is key.
01:34He who holds information will have an advantage.
01:37Any potential adversary who would like to harm our country would need to know the information.
01:43More importantly, since we are an archipelago, underwater information.
01:47The National Maritime Council and National Security Council also expressed concern over the findings from these drones.
01:55So, why are they here or why they've been used here?
02:00Again, for military and non-military purposes.
02:04So, again, that's for intelligence gathering.
02:06Whether it's military or non-military, it's for intelligence gathering.
02:09So, basically, that's how far they would like to venture into our American territory.
02:16So, in fact, some of the components there were found to be manufactured by China's state organizations.
02:25So, evidently, I think now we can conclusively say that these are Chinese underwater drones.
02:34And these are alarming because, as mentioned by Yusek Lopez, these are used for intelligence purposes.
02:40So, this really shows the extent of the operations in the Philippines.
02:46As of now, there has been no response from the Chinese embassy regarding the matter.
02:51Meanwhile, the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System or Nemesis Missile System of the U.S. has arrived in the Philippines.
03:01The armed forces of the Philippines did not disclose the exact location.
03:05But it will be part of the Balikatan exercises this year, which are set to begin next week.
03:12The Nemesis Missile System is expected to remain in the Philippines even after the conclusion of Balikatan.
03:20Just like the mid-range capability or Typhoon Missile System that has been in the country since last year and was used in various trainings.
03:28If there's another exercise going in the Philippines shortly after Balikatan and that equipment is appropriate and requested for it by the AFP,
03:36we would certainly look to participate in that exercise as well.
03:39But it is here for exercise purposes.
03:41Balikatan 2025 will be a full-scale battle exercise with participation from 14,000 Filipino and American troops,
03:50along with observers from other countries.
03:53The AFP already anticipates another response from China.
03:57We are agnostic to whatever reactions other countries may have with the exercise.
04:05But as I've always said, in all the previous exercises, every country, big or small, has the absolute and inalienable right to defend itself.
04:14That means that we also have a right to train for that defense and with the partners, our treaty allies.
04:21From the People's Television Network, Patrick Diazuz, Balita Pambansa.
