A maritime law expert on Wednesday took exception to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque remark that “only China qualifies” to explore the resource-rich Benham Rise, listing down “modest” research expeditions Filipinos have undertaken in the area. Roque’s claim is “completely wrong, based on ignorance, [and a] serious disservice” to Filipinos, scientists or not, said Jay L. Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. It is also an “over-exaggeration of China’s potential role in the Philippine ocean sciences,” he said in a public Facebook post, later pointing out that while China is a “formidable” force in contemporary ocean sciences, “it is by no means the only one.”

Debate heats up on Benham research. (2018, January 25). Manila Standard, p. A2.