Nolcom waiting for order to drive away foreign vessels in Benham Rise

February 7, 2018

The Northern Luzon Command ( Nolcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has not yet received orders to drive away foreign vessels in Benham Rise after President Rodrigo Duterte stopped on Tuesday all foreign research to stop all the "noise" after the Philippines allowed China to conduct the study in the area

“With regards to the issue that the president give a statement regarding an order to drive away the foreign vessels or Chinese vessels that conduct research in our waters, so far we haven’t received any order at the headquarters of Northern Luzon Command,” Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, Nolcom spokesman, said Wednesday.

Nato said Nolcom are still waiting for an order from higher headquarters regarding the matter.

“We are waiting orders from the higher up for us to perform (the task),” he said.

Nato noted while waiting for orders, Nolcom will monitor the territorial waters of the country within their area of responsibility including Benham Rise and Scarborough Shoal.

“We will still continue our mandate to monitor our fellow Filipinos who are conducting fishing activities within our waters as well as fishing vessels and Chinese vessels within our territory,” he said.

Nato added no foreign vessels are in Benham Rise. “In Benham, as of now there is no report that there is presence in the area of Benham Rise,” he said.

Nato said as part of their mandate Nolcom conducts three to four maritime air patrols over their area of responsibility every month. Robina Asido/DMS