MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday cried foul over news reports from various media outlets about his remarks, which sparked outrage from international law experts and scientists, regarding Chinese research in Benham Rise.
In a press briefing on the sidelines of Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, Roque denied saying that Filipinos do not have the financial means to carry out research in the continental shelf off the eastern seaboard of Luzon.
“‘Yun po ang sinagot ko: bakit binigyan ng lisensya ang China? Kasi ang mga dayuhan kinakailangan ng lisensya dahil ang Benham Rise ay parte ng extended continental shelf at tanging mga Filipino lang ang may karapatang mangalap ng tanging yaman at mag-conduct ng scientific research,” he said.
Roque cried that he was a victim of “fake news.”
The presidential spokesperson also hit international law experts and scientists who were insulted by his statement.
“‘Yung tape po will attest na wala akong ganung sinabi kasi maraming nagpapapansin lalo na ‘yung mga academic na mediocre,” he said.
In a lengthy Facebook post, maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said that Roque's claim was "completely wrong" and "based on ignorance."
During a press briefing Tuesday, Roque defended the approval given by the government to China to conduct maritime studies in Benham Rise by saying Filipinos could not do research there without China’s help.
“Because no one has applied. And no one can do it because, apparently, it's capital intensive,” he said.
The Philippines, however, has been conducting research in Benham Rise even without China’s help.
On Thursday, Roque tried to clarify his earlier remarks on the issue.
"Earlier, I responded, and I quote, 'Because only China has qualified so far. There are other applicants, unfortunately they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government.' It is obvious that my statement pertains to China and not the Philippines," he said.
While Roque claimed he was referring to China, reports from different media outlets showed that their reporters understood his remarks as referring to Filipinos.
Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs also showed that the Philippines had approved requests from the United States, China, Japan and South Korea for the past 18 years.