Divers from the Philippine Navy planted the Philippine flag on Philippine Rise to mark Independence Day and as a symbolic act to assert sovereignty over the vast sea area off the country’s eastern coast.
The underwater flag made of fiberglass will also serve as a marker of Filipinos’ rights to the continental shelf formerly called Benham Rise, according to the Philippine Navy.
The underwater area was renamed Philippine Rise on the order of President Rodrigo Duterte after he was briefed by security advisers and the military that Chinese vessels were in the area for three months last year.
Another flag planting in territorial waters was done earlier Monday by activists in the West Philippine Sea off Liwa, Zambales in observance of the 119th anniversary of Philippine independence.
credit: Manila Times
