Protest US drone found in Masbate, P-Noy urged

Masbate-based fishermen have asked President Benigno Aquino III to protest the incident involving a US-made aerial vehicle that crashed off the waters of Ticao Island in Masbate, fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said on Wednesday.

"We call your presidency to rescind the relationship with Washington D.C, protest the horrible incident and tell US President Barack Obama that it is time to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement,"  Pamalakaya said in a statement.

The group also asked Malacañang to direct the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to immediately send a diplomatic protest against the incident.

"Mr. Aquino is politically, constitutionally and morally obliged to stand up against this de facto declaration of war against nearly 100 million Filipinos," the group added.

Meanwhile, Anakpawis party list vice chairperson Fernando Hicap said the Masbate crash incident is not the country's first encounter with a U.S. drone.

He cited that in 2005, a drone crashed in Sultan Kudarat.

In 2009, a drone was discovered off the coast of Pio V. Corpuz town in Masbate during the Joint US- Philippine Balikatan exercises.

Last year, a U.S. drone airstrike reportedly killed 15 Jeemayah Islamiyah rebels in Jolo, Sulu. - Dennis Carcamo