Philippine Navy Reveals Underwater Drone with Bathymetric Data Found Near Calayan Island

In a significant discovery, a local fisherman found an underwater drone off the coast of San Pascual, Masbate, on December 30, 2024. The Philippine Navy has since confirmed that the drone, which was also recovered near Calayan Island, contained bathymetric data potentially useful for undersea warfare. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, stated that forensic analysis suggests a foreign power is deliberately collecting this data. Trinidad highlighted the data’s potential uses in academic, commercial, and military fields. He also expressed concerns about a broader effort to map not just the maritime domain but also the human, political, and infrastructural landscapes of the Philippines. To date, five such drones have been discovered across different regions, including two in Calayan Island, one in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, one in Initao, Misamis Oriental, and the latest in San Pascual, Masbate.