Defense and Foreign affairs officials were among those invited by the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs that will on Wednesday investigate alleged Chinese activities in Benham Rise. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the committee, said the panel will be objective in its inquiry to prevent the undue “politization” of the groundwork to be laid for the responsible stewardship of the resource-rich Benham Rise. Gatchalian said that the primary purpose of the inquiry is to craft an executive-legislative strategy for the long-term defense and development of Benham Rise including the creation of the Benham Rise Development Authority (BRDA).

Antiporda, J. (2017, March 27). Senate panel sets Benham Rise inquiry. The Manila Times, p. A2.