US drone accused of spying in PH

From the Bicol Mail (Jan 10): US drone accused of spying in PH

Following the recovery of a US drone believed to be used for reconnaissance off the waters of Ticao Island, Masbate, the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Bicol accused the United States government of spying within the country’s territory in violation of our sovereignty. Gregorio Bañares, National Democratic Front regional spokesman in Bicol told Bicol Mail that the spy plane smashed into the waters off Tacdugan Reef, Barangay Bagahanglad in Ticao, Masbate on Sunday evening (not Monday as reported by some national papers). “This is a violation of our sovereignty. We strongly condemn the United States government for superseding internal conflict in Philippines,” Bañares told Bicol Mail.

The spy plane with aerial target drone BQM-74E Chuckar 111, Part No. 98500, Contract No. N00019-05E004 is remote controlled, subsonic aerial target, capable of speeds up to Mach 0.86 and altitudes from 30 to 40,000 ft (10 to 12,000 m), which is capable of simulating enemy threats for gunnery and missile training exercises, according to Wikipedia.

Bañares lashed at Army Col. Julian Pacatan, commanding officer of the Army’s 9th Infantry Brigade, for the latter’s statement that the recovered US Navy machine is of vintage type. Bañares also blamed the Aquino administration for allowing the US forces to enter the Philippines’ territory through Balikatan exercises.

Balikatan exercises

Army Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of Army’s 9th Infantry Division regional command told Bicol Mail that based on the report he got, the BQM-74 Chukar-Aerial Target Drones is a three-meter long non- explosive which was used for Balikatan training exercises. He admitted though that he is not competent enough to discuss BQM-74 Chukar-Aerial Target Drones as he needs to ask first the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) because according to him only the higher officials could explain why such sensitive machine was found drifting in the waters off Masbate province.

Sr. Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, PNP regional commander said the fishermen initially thought they had hauled in a bomb and alerted the police. “A technical evaluation determined that the object is one unmanned aerial vehicle,” Olitoquit told reporters. Olitoquit said the drone had been turned over to the Philippine Navy, which would conduct a thorough investigation.

“It appears to have been floating for quite some time,” Captain Rommel Galang, deputy commander of naval forces in the area was quoted as saying. “We will first study this drone but initially it appears to be a UAV used largely in reconnaissance.” Galang said the US embassy had been informed of the discovery and local authorities would eventually turn it over to them.

In an interview last year, President Benigno Aquino confirmed US drones were allowed to fly across the Philippines for reconnaissance purposes, but were not allowed to conduct strikes. The Philippines is a close American ally and has long relied on its former colonial ruler for help in dealing with its many security threats. The United States is also the Philippines’ biggest supplier of military hardware. About 600 US forces have been rotating in the southern Philippines since 2002 to help train local troops to deal with Islamic militants.

However, Masbate, where the drone was found, is many hundreds of kilometers from the Muslim insurgency-wracked southern regions and no US troops are known to operate there. One major security problem in Masbate is the support there for communists who have been waging a decades-long rebellion that continues to claim dozens of lives every year.

US Embassy statement

The US embassy in Manila released a statement on Monday saying it was looking into reports of the drone’s recovery, without confirming the plane belonged to the United States. “We are aware of reports that an apparently US-made unmanned aerial vehicle was recovered in the waters off Masbate this weekend,” the statement said. “The recovered vehicle appears to be of the sort that is used as an air defense target in training exercises. 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 sea,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño also called for an investigation of the incident even as he demanded the United States government to halt its espionage operation because it violates the sovereignty of the country. “Dapat talaga eh imbestigahan ang pangyayaring ito dahil tila minamanmanan tayo ng mga dayuhan sa sarili nating bansa at napakaraming tanong na dapat sagutin,” the Party-list lawmaker said. “This incident is alarming and a potential infringement on our territorial sovereignty. The US as well as Philippine governments have a lot of explaining to do,” Casiño said in a statement sent to Bicol Mail.

Casiño said there are at least 5 questions that need to be answered by Philippine and US authorities. First, what was the drone doing in that area and what was its mission; second, was the PH government aware of its presence and operation; third, who gave the clearances for such an operation; fourth, what was the legal basis if indeed clearance was given, and last; if no clearance was obtained, will the Philippine government file a protest? “The answers to these questions are of paramount importance and have to be provided at once lest a cover up is being done. It appears that the US is infringing upon our territorial sovereignty with impunity and we from Makabayan will not take this sitting down,” Casiño said.

http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=5992