Duterte stops foreign exploration at PH Rise

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all marine explorations by foreign scientists at the Philippine Rise to stop, and called on the Philippine Navy to “chase out” any vessel fishing or conducting research in the 25-million hectare continental shelf east of Luzon, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

The President gave the order Monday night during a Cabinet meeting where he also told his officials to refer to “Benham Rise” as “Philippine Rise.”