No incursion in Benham? Palace not sure

MANILA, Philippines -  Did President Duterte give permission to Beijing to explore Benham Rise?

Malacañang spokesman Ernesto Abella seemed confused when pressed about the Chief Executive’s public statements on Benham Rise, which showed Duterte’s confusion between the seismically active undersea plateau off Aurora province and the West Philippine Sea.

“Well, let me just refer you first to the President’s statement where he said that… ‘There was no incursion and the only agreement was research and there was no…’ In fact, he said, ‘Inimbita ko nga ‘yung mga Russian battleships, so walang incursion’ (I even invited the Russian battleships. So there was no incursion),” Abella said.

Duterte met the National Security Council at Malacañang on Monday after a press briefing where he said he consented to a research mission by Chinese ships in Benham Rise.

This came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed last week several Chinese vessels had been plying the 13 million-hectare undersea region and biodiversity hotspot located east of Luzon, with one ship crisscrossing the area for about three months in an apparent surveying mission.

A few days later, Duterte claimed he had allowed the vessel to pass through Benham Rise, a statement that surprised his defense chief.

Duterte said he did not want to fight over Benham Rise to get economic aid from China.

In yesterday’s press briefing, Abella scrambled for words on whether the President was referring to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea or to Benham Rise.

“That I cannot answer. There was no specific reference to that. But for all it’s worth…it was not a formally written agreement. It was… Well, that would be speculation if I said so,” he said.

Abella was responding to a query on whether Duterte was referring to the West Philippine Sea or Benham Rise when he said there were no incursions and that there was an agreement to allow China to conduct research activities.

Looking for a supposedly prepared statement, Abella went on to say that Duterte in fact was referring to Benham Rise in his statements during last Monday’s press briefing.

“But basically they just talked about – you know, they were not talking about… The President was still very, very careful that he [was] protecting our sovereign rights over the – over the extended conti…(nental shelf) Benham, Benham, yes,” Abella said.

Asked if the President may have confused the West Philippine Sea issue and Benham Rise, Abella said there was no confusion at all.

“There was no conflict, it was just a matter of referring to separate matters at the same time,” he said.

The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing after a Chinese survey vessel was tracked moving back and forth over Benham Rise, a vast area east of the Philippines declared by the United Nations in 2012 as part of its continental shelf.

The Philippine government has captured media attention in going on the offensive over the Benham Rise issue, underlining decades of mistrust of China over its activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Abella then accused newsmen of “framing” the issue differently when questions were raised on why Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo issued the statements raising concerns over China’s moves.

Abella reiterated the President will protect the country’s sovereignty as regards Benham Rise.

“The President is very careful that he will protect our sovereign rights in the Benham Rise,” he said.

In the same press briefing, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the President has given permission for China to conduct research in the area.?“Well, I think the President has already answered that when he said that he gave permission,” Jose said.

Jose refused to comment further, noting Manalo is set to have a press briefing later in the day. Jose said he would not want to preempt his superior.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also sought inquiry over the details of the supposed agreement with China over Benham Rise.

“Suspicious activities on the part of Chinese authorities concerning the Benham Rise have underscored the urgent need for the Philippine government to invest significant resources in long-term strategies that will empower us to uphold our clear-cut sovereign rights in the area,” Gatchalian said.

He stressed the need for a strategic plan to develop and protect Benham Rise from foreign exploitation.

With the continued threat of Chinese incursions in the area, Gatchalian said a Benham Rise development authority could help deter them from becoming even more aggressive in its presence there.

Gatchalian argued that having a permanent presence in the area would help the country exercise its rights over Benham Rise.

“The point here is to do initial activities to show everyone that we’re maximizing this resource for our country,” Gatchalian said.

“One of the reasons why the other countries are interested in the area is because we don’t have any activity there. If we have research ships and an authority, an actual office there, then I don’t think they will exert their influence,” he added.

He said the government could consider conducting joint explorations in Benham Rise with other countries that have the capability for this type of undertaking.

Sen. Sonny Angara earlier filed a proposal to create a Benham Rise development authority under Senate Bill 312.

Under the bill, the Benham Rise development authority would be an attached agency of the National Economic and Development Authority and would be tasked to spearhead intensive scientific research and exploration in the Benham Rise, identify its economic potential and take the lead in formulating and implementing a development roadmap aligned with the country’s Philippine Development Plan. – Marvin Sy