PHOTO BY NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
ONBOARD BRP DAVAO DEL SUR – President Rodrigo Duterte landed at the BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) on Tuesday afternoon to start his trip to the Philippine Rise.
Duterte’s presidential chopper landed at the flight deck of this Navy ship at 3:45 p.m.
The President was welcomed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, Sen. Win Gatchalian, actor Robin Padilla and other government officials.
The President would send-off 50 Filipino scientists who would be conducting scientific exploration at the Philippine Rise.
Duterte had earlier said to the Philippine Rise would be an assertion of Manila’s sovereignty over the area, adding that he was willing to go to war if other countries would conduct research here without his permission.
On May 16, 2017, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 25 which changed the name of the underwater plateau from Benham Rise to Philippine Rise. /muf