US: Target drone came from Guam drill

MANILA, Philippines - An unarmed target drone found in the waters off Masbate was launched from a US Navy ship during a combat exercise off Guam last year and may have been washed by ocean currents to the country, the US Embassy said yesterday.

US Embassy spokeswoman Bettina Malone said the BQM-74E drone was launched from the USS Chafee, a guided-missile destroyer, as a mock missile target during naval combat exercises off Guam’s coast in September.

The Philippine navy deployed a ship with ordnance experts after a diver and fishermen who found the drone over the weekend reported it may have been a bomb. The discovery sparked concerns because US troops are allowed to engage in exercises with local troops but are legally barred from engaging in combat operations in the country.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippine government has been assured by the US Embassy that the reported aerial vehicle is by design and purpose solely used for target practice and not armed or used for surveillance.”

The Philippine Navy earlier insisted the drone was not a spy plane but an “aerial target drone.”

Officials said Monday a suspected American drone was found floating off the coast of Sitio Tacdungan in San Jacinto, Masbate, prompting them to deploy a ship with ordnance experts after fishermen reported the object may have been a bomb.

The three-meter orange BQM-74e drone marked “Navy” was found by a diver and fishermen on Sunday and has been turned over to naval authorities, Philippine navy officer Capt. Jason Rommel Galang said.

The markings of the drone indicate that it is owned by the US Navy and was manufactured by Northrop Grumman.

Also inscribed on the drone are its serial number BQ 55048, contract number N00019-05-C0040 and model number BQM74e.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is now in the custody of Naval Forces Southern Luzon in Legazpi City. Authorities did not explain why the UAV plunged into the sea while flying over Masbate.

“Its orange color and US Navy logo suggests that it is used primarily to simulate enemy missiles and aircraft during exercises,” Burgos explained.

In a text message, Tina Malone of the US embassy said the “recovered vehicle appears to be of the sort that is used as an air defense target in training exercises.”

Malone said efforts were underway to determine if the drone was one of those used in American military air target training exercises and why it was in the waters off Masbate.

“This type of vehicle is not armed and not used for surveillance. We are trying to confirm this interpretation and to determine how and when it may have landed in the area,” she said. 

Burgos, on the other hand, belied allegations that the drone was used to conduct surveillance operations.

Communist rebels have accused the government of letting the US violate Philippine sovereignty by allowing it to deploy spy planes around Masbate. 

Militant lawmakers called for an investigation into the US drone crash.

“This incident should be investigated as it appears that foreigners are spying on us and there are many questions that need to be answered,” Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said.

Act Teachers’ party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Malacañang should explain why a US spy plane fell into Philippine territory.

Tinio said the drone could have posed a threat to public safety.

Senators, on the other hand, said they are open to an investigation into the incident. 

Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the presence of the drone in Philippine territory “raises a serious concern of national security.”

“Our Visiting Forces Agreement with the US allows only for specific joint exercises. As chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, I believe a prompt, thorough report from the VFA commission is needed on the matter to see if any provision of the VFA was breached,” Legarda said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the legislative branch could initiate the probe into the issue.

– With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, AP