The former ruling Liberal Party on Tuesday said that somebody should be accountable for China's exploration off the Benham Rise without permission from concerned agencies. During last Monday’s Senate Science and Technology hearing in the Benham Rise, National Security adviser Hermogenes divulged that a Chinese ship conducted the first “illegal” research on the Benham Rise in 2004. He also admitted that the government failed to learn of the research at that time because of its lack of capability.

Ramos-Araneta, M. (2018, February 28). LP hits China's meddling in PH rise. Manila Standard, p. A3.