MANILA: Drones believed to be Chinese owned have been seen hovering above the Philippine garrison in the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal, according to soldiers manning the isolated outpost.
“Since late last month and early this month, we have monitored at least three overhead passes of a kind of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle),” a Marine said.
The military has reported increased presence of Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal and in other areas within Philippine territory.
The outpost had served as refuge from a storm – and a Chinese patrol – to six Japanese journalists and reporters from radio station dzRH and The STAR.
The group was on its way to Pag-Asa Island on a small fishing boat with local officials led by Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon when it encountered a Chinese patrol early this month.
The Chinese tried to drive away the small boat despite the bad weather.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
