Maritime expert: No foreign researchers affected by Duterte's order to end Benham Rise research

A maritime law expert on Tuesday downplayed the recent directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to end maritime studies in the resource-rich Benham Rise.

In a Facebook post, Jay L. Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, pointed out that no foreign researchers would be affected by Duterte's order as the supposed foreign maritime studies have been completed.

"Taking Agriculture Secretary Piñol's report of what PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) said at face value, the question to be asked is, are there actually any ongoing MSR (maritime scientific research) in the Benham Rise Region that will be subject of the cessation order? Is anyone going to be affected by this? The answer, indicated by the subsequent walk-back, is apparently NO. Even the reported Chinese MSR appears to have already completed its principal research activity," Batongbacal pointed out.

"As for the reported order to 'chase away' foreign MSR vessels, given the above, was there anything to chase away in the first place? Apart from the Chinese cruise, there have been no other reported MSR activities going on anywhere near the Benham Rise region," Batongbacal said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Agriculture chief said Duterte has ordered a halt to the maritime scientific research by foreigners in the Benham Rise, adding that the Chief Executive has told security personnel to check on the presence of foreign vessels in the area.

However, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Duterte's order was not really a ban, but a directive which reserves the conduct of research to Filipinos.

It was also disclosed by Magdalo partylist Representative Gary Alejano that Chinese vessels which supposedly conducted research in Benham Rise already left the Philippine waters.

Batongbacal, meanwhile, underscored that Filipinos have always been rightful of conducting research in the region because "it is theirs as a people."

"Foreigners have always had to seek the State's consent to do so once UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) entered into force. And we've already done some research, as pointed out in a previous post. The statement makes it sound as if government noticed it only now," the maritime expert said.

Batongbacal said it would be better if the Philippine government announced that it would support and fund the country's own research.

"Talk is cheap. If government wants to wave a flag, it should send (and keep sending) our research ships to the area with full support for MSR," he said. — BAP, GMA News