Ship to sail out to Philippine Rise to mark 8th anniversary of renaming

MANILA, Philippines — The BRP Emilio Jacinto will be sailing out to the Philippine Rise on Sunday to mark the eighth anniversary of its renaming from Benham Rise, the National Security Council (NSC) announced.

The Philippine Rise is an underwater ridge on the eastern coast of the country.

READ: Benham Rise now ‘Philippine Rise’ after Duterte signs EO

In a statement on Saturday, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command and the Northern Luzon Naval Command sent off the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) on Friday.

“Tomorrow, the BRP Emilio Jacinto is set to arrive at the Talampas ng Pilipinas (Philippine Rise) at 8 a.m.,” Año said.

“Upon reaching the area, the ship will conduct a ceremonial raising of the Philippine flag, a solemn and resolute gesture that affirms our nation’s presence and jurisdiction in this strategically important maritime zone,” he further said.

The Benham Rise was renamed the Philippine Rise through Executive Order No. 25 dated May 16, 2017.

The move was done in a bid to assert the country’s sovereign rights over the area in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and applicable national and international laws. /cb