Benham Rise visits may be put in writing

President Duterte is inclined to put in writing an agreement allowing China’s research ships into local waters.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella assured that the President remains committed to protecting and defending the nation’s interests in the wake of criticisms arising from the presence of Chinese survey ships over the resource-rich area located east of Luzon.

“I’m sure he is,” Abella said in Palace press conference, when asked if the President is open to heeding some lawmakers’ call to put down in black and white the reported research deal with China.

The President recently triggered a political firestorm when he admitted on national television that he allowed Chinese surveillance ships into Philippine waters as part of an agreement.

Duterte said there was “no incursion” when Chinese survey ships were spotted sailing through Benham Rise due to an invitation he had extended to them. He added that he was advised ahead of the passage of the Chinese vessels.

The President’s remarks prompted some lawmakers to call for an inquiry into Duterte’s supposed research deal with China amid concerns on sovereignty issues.

Abella admitted that such agreement was not done in written form.

“For all it’s worth, it was not a formally written agreement…but basically they just talked,” he said. “The President was still very, very careful that he [was] protecting our sovereign rights over the Benham [Rise],” he added.

Abella also tried to downplay the contradicting government positions on the Benham Rise issue. “It was not in disagreement but they were simply referring to separate things,” he said.

BRDA proposed At the Senate, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian announced that he would fast-track the passage of the legislation seeking to create the Benham Rise Development Authority (BRDA), a multiagency government body tasked to oversee the defense and development of the territory.

Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on economic affairs, which is now hearing Senate Bill No. 312 filed by Sen. Sonny Angara, said the ongoing suspicious activities on the part of Chinese authorities in the 13million hectare underwater region underscores the need for the Philippine government to invest significant resources in long-term strategies “that would empower us to uphold our clear-cut sovereign rights in the area.”

“Benham Rise has a lot of potential, not only on energy, but also biodiversity and even food. We have a lot of fellow Filipinos who are fishing there because Benham Rise is rich in terms of aqua culture and energy potential,” Gatchalian said.

After releasing the committee report, Gatchalian said he would sponsor the measure on the floor immediately upon the resumption of the Senate session on May 2. (Genalyn D. Kabiling and Hannah L. Torregoza)