Even though the mass of land is not a portion of Territory of the Philippines as usually defined, the country works out the exclusive right to explore and take advantage of its natural resources. Other country's, nevertheless may be pleased the right of 'innocent passage' and freedom of navigation in those water areas. It was located off of Isabela and Aurora Province in the eastern board side of the country. The Benham Rise have a total area of 13 million hectares. It is possibly abundant in minerals and natural gas deposits.
Cong. Alejano is closely connected with Sen. Trillanes and previously together in staging a coup attempt. Under the 1987 constitution, any impeachment complaint may be filed by a member of the House of Representative or any ordinary citizen with the endorsement of a house representative. Once correctly accepted, it is to be entered in the order of business and assigned to the designated committee which will find out if it is sufficient in form and substance. Alejano has strongly condemned what he called'intrusions in our sovereign territory' by ships of China that have been seen in the area.
Alejano quoted the opinion of an expert jay Batongbacal, the Director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea stating
" The region may not be ‘territory’ in the same sense as land territory, but it is definitely ‘territory’ for the purpose of Philippine laws and regulations over natural resources."Alejano added quoting the opinion of Batongbacal
"The 1987 Constitution considers as legally part of the National Territory all areas over which the Philippines has sovereign or jurisdiction; Benham Rise falls squarely within the definition,"
Source: NEWS MEDIA PH
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