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The Philippines will neither back down nor yield an inch of its territory to anyone, House Speaker Martin Romualdez declared on Monday, March 4. 

"The Philippines will not back down or yield an inch of its territory. We will continue to assert our rights over the Philippine Rise and any other maritime areas that belong to us under international law,” Romualdez said in a statement. 

Over the weekend, the alleged "loitering" of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise or the Philippine Rise grabbed headlines. Romualdez expressed "deep concern" over the incident, as he noted that Benham was well within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ). 

The Leyte 1st district congressman and leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to international laws and protocols. 

"We call on all nations to respect the rights of coastal states, uphold the principles of international law, and refrain from any activities that undermine regional stability and maritime security,” he stressed. 

“The Philippines will not compromise its territorial integrity or allow any encroachment upon its sovereign rights. Philippine Rise is unquestionably within our EZZ, and we will assert our authority to safeguard our maritime domain,” the Speaker said. 

He also expressed his confidence in the Philippine government's commitment to safeguarding the country's interests and ensuring the rule of law in the region. 

"The Philippine government remains steadfast in its duty to protect our sovereignty and preserve our national interest. We will work closely with relevant agencies to address this issue effectively and assert our rights within the bounds of international law,” Romualdez said. 

Diplomatic protest 

For Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, a diplomatic protest against the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise is warranted.

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“The intrusion of Chinese survey ships into the Philippine Rise east of our country, which is inside our exclusive economic zone, is concerning. The government should lodge a protest with Beijing every time they trespass on our territory, whether in Benham Rise or the West Philippine Sea,” he said. 

Rodriguez, a consistent critics of Chinese harassment and bullying of Filipino troops, personnel and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said China is obviously surveying the undersea feature because it is rich in marine and mineral resources. 

“Gusto yata tayong unahan sa pag-survey at pag-explore ng lamang yaman ng dagat at ng seabed duon,” he said. 

(Looks like they want to survey and explore the sea and the seabed of natural resources ahead of us.) 

Larger than Luzon, the Benham Rise is believed to be rich mineral and natural gas deposits. It is also an important fishing ground for Filipinos and a marine biodiversity hotspot. 

The government designated the area as a “protected food supply exclusive zone” in May 2017.