The Philippine Navy continues its forensic analysis of the submersible drone retrieved from the waters of Masbate.
According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Navy Spokesperson Cmdr. John Percie Alcos disclosed that the examination and determination of the instrument's origin and purpose will require six to eight weeks.
The armed forces remain open to the possibility that the gadget might be intended for military use.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad stated that the drone's purpose could likely be for scientific or research use, based on its color and design.
However, the official admitted that the submersible may have captured data, such as ocean temperature and salinity, which could serve multiple applications.
On December 30, local fishermen retrieved the submarine drone labeled “HY-119,” which was initially believed to have originated from China.
Based on their accounts, the drone was spotted floating vertically in the sea. The six-foot device, made from PVC and metal, is suspected to be a remote-controlled electronic gadget.
Earlier, Adm. Trinidad disclosed that the military had come across submersibles in August and September of the previous year, although the details of the subsequent analyses have not been made public.
