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Gov’t approved US, Japan, SoKor research bids in PHL Rise —Roque


The government has approved the applications of the United States, Japan, and South Korea to conduct research in the resource-rich Philippine Rise, which presidential spokesperson Harry Roque hoped would prove that the Duterte administration is not favoring China.

In a statement, he said that the latest development was from Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Request applications to conduct research by the United States, Japan, and South Korea have likewise been approved.  This hopefully puts to rest the issue that the current administration is favoring China [on] the issue of Benham Rise,” he said.

The statement came after Roque drew flak for saying that conducting a research in the undersea region is “capital expensive.” He was asked to respond to Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s remarks against China's research in what was previously known as Benham Rise, off eastern Luzon. The senator questioned why the Philippines needed to partner with China.

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 Filipinos.

Roque also clarified his remarks.

“We must look at my response on the issue in its entirety.  I was referring to China when I [said, ‘No] one has applied and no one can do it, because, apparently, it’s capital-intensive.’  Earlier, I responded, and I quote, ‘Because only China has qualified so far. There are other applicants, unfortunately they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government,” he said.

“It is obvious that my statement pertains to China and not the Philippines,” he added.

The spokesperson reiterated that Filipinos do not need the consent of the government to conduct scientific investigation in the Philippine Rise because “it is subject to our sovereign rights.”

“The Government of the Philippines does not need, therefore, to give permits to Filipinos in this regard. We have the sovereign rights to explore and exploit the resources in Benham Rise,” Roque said.

“To reiterate, I never said that Filipinos cannot conduct research in Benham rise. On the contrary, only Filipinos can do so even without express consent of our state [sic],” he added.  —LBG, GMA News

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