Military and civilian technical divers planted the Philippine flag on the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) to assert the country’s sovereign rights on Monday, Independence Day.
The underwater flag-raising activity took place in one of the shallowest portions of the Philippine Rise, located 140 nautical miles east of Casiguran, Aurora.
READ: Gov’t upholds sovereignty over PH rise, plants flag
The divers faced strong currents which made it more challenging to place the flag 57 meters below sea level.
“It’s not easy but it is our mission to raise the flag and we did it,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kiram Sadava, overall dive director of the underwater activity. IDL/rga