President Rodrigo Duterte asserted the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Philippine Rise but did not make good on his promise to visit the undersea region on Tuesday. He does not distinguish between “sovereign rights” and “sovereignty” because the undersea region is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, said the President.

Golez, P. (2018, May 17). Du30 asserts PH Rise 'ours' but breaks promise to visit. Panay News, pp. 7, 14.