Roque clarifies: Filipinos can conduct research in Benham Rise

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

The Palace on Thursday clarified that Filipinos can conduct research in Benham Rise after its controversial statement drew flak from experts and scientists.

“I never said that Filipinos cannot conduct research in Benham Rise,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said, clearing that he was just misunderstood in his previous statement

“I was referring to China when I said ‘no one has applied and no one can do it because apparently, it’s capital-intensive,” he added, stressing that it was not the Filipino scientists that he was referring to.

While this was his defense, during the January 23 press conference, the Spokesman’s cited answer was actually his answer to the question of why Filipinos are not the ones conducting the marine research.

“Because no one has [applied.] And no one can do it because, apparently, it’s capital intensive,” this was Roque’s answer.

“You do not need a permit for any Filipino corporation to conduct a specific investigation in Benham Rise because it is ours so that’s not something that a consent has to be given by the government,” he added.

This also contradicts Roque’s defense of saying that China has ‘not applied’ when China has in fact applied and gotten its permit.

In addition to that, Tindig Pilipinas member and Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano on Tuesday said that Ke Xue Hao, the Chinese vessel used for the marine scientific research in Benham Rise has entered the Philippine territory.

Jay Batongbacal, international maritime law expert, slammed Roque’s claim of Filipinos unable to afford to conduct its own research in Benham Rise, calling it “completely wrong, based on ignorance,” and a “serious disservice” to Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Advocates of Science and Technology for the People or AGHAM denounced Roque’s statement for a group of Filipino scientists have explored Benham Rise back in May 2014. This exploration was funded by the government and was collaborated with international institutions.