Duterte orders AFP to guard PH Rise

Benham Rise

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct a regular patrol in the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) after he ordered to chase away any foreign vessel fishing or conducting research in the resource-rich continental shelf.

Duterte asserted that “the Philippine Rise belongs to the Philippines.”

“We will claim exclusive ownership of the economic zone,” he told reporters in a press briefing in Davao City.

“And I said, I ordered the Philippine Navy and Air Force to do regular patrols,” he added.

READ: Duterte orders PH Navy to chase away any foreign vessels in Benham

Duterte had earlier ordered to stop marine explorations by foreign scientists in the resource-rich Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise.

Malacañang later said that Duterte only wanted a stricter application process for foreign researchers.

READ: No ban on foreign explorers in PH Rise, only stricter application process – Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said foreign researchers, who want to conduct scientific research in the Philippine Rise, must first seek the approval of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. /jpv