QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Philippine Navy has deployed two planes to patrol the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise.
“The Navy will henceforth regularly patrol Benham Rise partly due to past Chinese activities there but more importantly because it is part of our continental shelf and awarded to us by the (United Nations),” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
The planes will also be used to enhance the rescue capabilities of the Philippine Navy, especially Filipino fishermen under distress.
The Navy is expecting an additional three to four aircrafts from Japan.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2012 confirmed that Benham Rise was part of the Philippines’ continental shelf.
Eagle News Service
