Drone threats too big for Guam to handle on its own, industry leader warns

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Amid the unfolding global drone warfare, Guam becomes more vulnerable to threats, requiring a comprehensive defense strategy beyond operational restrictions, an industry leader said Friday.

“The threat is evolving rapidly and so must our approach,” Charlie Hermosa warned, testifying on Bill 38-338, which would mark restricted zones at the Port Authority of Guam and empower the port police to respond to illegal drone operations.

“Guam is the tip of the spear here in the Indo-Pacific. Because of our strategic importance, we must think beyond simply prohibiting unauthorized drone operations,” said Hermosa, founder of Bella Wings Aviation, which provides drone services on Guam.

The bill, authored by Sen. Telo Taitague, would mandate the port authority to identify protected areas through public maps and signage “to address the growing security risks posed by the malicious use of drones.”

While endorsing the bill’s passage, Hermosa cautioned that it does not guarantee full protection.

“It will not, by itself, stop a determined bad actor,” he said. “The bad actors have the capability to fly hundreds of miles and have the capability to be able to load these drones with payloads that could cause a lot of damage.”

At any rate, Hermosa described the bill as a "positive first step" that can be an impetus for a broader scheme

He suggested a strategy that includes advanced drone detection capabilities, coordinated response plans, regular training and exercises and partnership with federal agencies tasked with responding to more sophisticated threats.

Charlie Hermosa

While the bill does not seek to create a no-fly zone or regulate U.S. airspace, Taitague said it targets those who “intentionally use drones to spy on, disrupt or threaten port operations.”

Military leaders acknowledged that the rise of small unmanned aircraft systems poses one of the fastest-changing challenges in modern warfare, forcing them to rethink how they protect bases and infrastructure.

In January this year, the U.S. military conducted drone testing over portions of the Philippine Sea north of Andersen Air Force Base as part of the Department of War's broader efforts to strengthen counter-drone capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.

Officials say Guam’s strategic location makes the island an important site for testing and operational readiness as the military adapts to increasingly sophisticated drone threats.

Chief Victor Camacho, assistant port police chief, disclosed an incident involving two “tourists of foreign descent,” who were caught along the seawall flying a drone that entered the port yard facility, which is a restricted area.

“Luckily, we have the Navy’s assistance. They detected the drone and reached out to us. We located the operators and identified them,” Camacho said.

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However, local enforcers have limited authority to handle the case because the Port Authority of Guam is a federally regulated maritime facility under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

“The only thing we could have done within our authority was to coordinate the mission to the fusion center,” Camacho said.

The arrested drone operators have been turned over to federal authorities, he added.

“Those are not discretionary responsibilities. There are federally mandated security obligations that the port must meet every day,” Camacho said. “The port cannot wait until an incident occurs before determining whether clear legal authority exists to respond. We need the authority before an incident happens.”

He said the bill provides the port with clear legal authority to protect designated critical infrastructure from unauthorized drone operations without encroaching on the Federal Aviation Administration's authority.

Taitague said her bill seeks to protect the port "before something happens, not after."

"As drone technology continues to evolve, Guam needs laws that deter those who would intentionally threaten our supply chain and public safety while respecting the rights of responsible drone operators," she added.

Besides aerial threats, Hermosa alerted the port authority to the emerging surface drones. "Those are water-based drones," he said. "We need to ensure that we protect our ports or waterways from these types of activities as well."

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In June, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed Bill 38-191, now Public Law 38-128, prohibiting drone flying over the Department of Corrections perimeter fence.

“Advances in drone technology have made detection and mitigation more challenging for our law enforcement community who have for years faced staff and resource shortages," said Sen. Shawn Gumataotao, the bill's author.

"Given the lack of progress on a new prison consistent with the 2021 DOC Facility Master Plan, implementing this drone restrictions policy across government prisons and jails ensures that our law enforcement staff might just have one less operational issue to worry about," he added.

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