President Rodrigo Duterte might board the Philippine Navy’s biggest warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar when the Philippine chief executive visits Philippine Rise or Benham Rise next week to assert claim that the region is part of the county’s territory, a Palace source said. In his speech in Mabolo, Cebu City, the President reiterated that he would sail to the Philippine Rise to announce to the world that the Philippine Rise belongs to the Philippines. The President made the announcement in his speech during an assembly of freemasons in Davao City, saying he would sail to the Philippine Rise to make known that the region is part of the country’s territory.

Barcelo, V. (2018, May 3). Du30 to board PH warship in visit to PH Rise. Manila Standard, p. A3.