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Duterte sends science team to Philippine Rise to assert sovereignty


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday sent off a team of scientists to the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) to fulfill his promise to assert the country's sovereign rights over the uncontested undersea region off Aurora province.

The presidential chopper carrying Duterte landed at 3:45 p.m. at the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Davao del Sur off Casiguran, Aurora, where a program was held to commemorate the anniversary of the renaming of the resource-rich region to Philippine Rise.

Duterte also signed a presidential proclamation declaring parts of the Philippine Rise as a marine reserve and led the send off for 50 Filipino scientists who will conduct a month-long research in the area.

"Philippine Rise is ours. I did not make any distinction between sovereign rights or sovereign property. Sinabi ko lang basta amin 'yan," the President said in a speech.

Among those who attended the event were Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.

Also in attendance were broadcaster Rey Langit, actor and Duterte supporter Robin Padilla, and incoming deputy presidential spokesperson Peterson Poon.

On Wednesday, the inter-agency Area Task Force-North will cast the first buoy in the Philippine Rise, including the laying of a flag marker by volunteer Filipino divers at the shallowest point of Benham Bank.

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command, a flag raising will also be held and a fly-by of aircraft from different agencies conducting the maritime air patrol will be done twice during the singing of national anthem and after the program proper concluded.

Duterte had said he wanted to sail to Benham Rise to make a statement that the Philippines enjoys sovereign rights over the area.

The President has repeatedly asserted that only Filipinos have the right to explore and exploit the resources in the undersea plateau and that the only right that foreigners can exercise in Benham Rise is the right to innocent passage.

He had deployed a Marine battalion to safeguard the country's sovereign interests there and warned that war could erupt if foreigners take anything from the Benham Rise.

The 13-million hectare undersea plateau off Aurora province is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone as recognized by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012.

The area is believed to be rich in gas, minerals and marine life. — MDM/KBK, GMA News

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