Law prof Roque cries miscommunication, says Pinoys may do research in Benham Rise

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said that there had been a "miscommunication" over his remarks indicating that Filipinos could not afford to do maritime scientific research in the Benham Rise.

Saying that he taught international law at the University of the Philippines and overseas, Roque said he could not have remarked that Filipinos could not do research in Philippine waters.

“I'd like to underscore the fact but it's too basic a mistake for me to make considering I taught International Law in UP and abroad," Roque said at a briefing in New Delhi, where President Rodrigo Duterte is on an official visit.

"When we talk of sovereign rights, it's not only exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources, it's also the right, exclusive right to conduct scientific research, lay submarine cables and build artificial islands,” he added.

Roque, however, has yet to make any reference to maritime research being too costly for Filipinos to conduct in the Benham Rise on their own.

“I understand there's a possibility of miscommunication and not imputing anything to that article. I'm just clarifying that I could not have said that Filipinos cannot conduct research in the Benham Rise because this goes against the very definition of sovereign rights,” he said, without specifying the article.

“I'm sorry for the miscommunication but again, I would like to highlight that, of course Filipinos are conducting research and Filipinos don't need to get the consent of the Philippine state because the right to conduct scientific research is ours. That's what I meant,” he added.

Roque drew flak after he said that conducting marine research in the Benham Rise was "capital expensive” especially for an all-Filipino team.

University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal said Roque’s statement was “completely wrong,” “based on ignorance,” and a “serious disservice” to the Filipinos.

He also reiterated that the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs granted licenses for foreigners to engage in scientific research in the Philippine Rise.

“Apparently, the most number of licenses have been awarded to American corporations. And so far, we have only granted one to China. We've also granted to South Korea and if I'm not mistaken, Japan,” he said. —NB, GMA News