Duterte on skipping jet ski ride to Benham: Walang gasolinahan dun

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday explained why he didn't jet ski to the Benham Rise area as the had media anticipated earlier this week.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", Duterte in apparent jest said he was concerned about running out of fuel because of the distance.

"Kung mag-jet ski ako, sabi ko wala naman gasolinahan diyan... kung maubusan, saan ako kukuha ng gasolina?" Duterte told reporters in Malacañang.

"Lahat, ibig sabihin, puntahan ko?" he added.

Duterte on Tuesday did not make it to the Philippine Rise, which he had vowed to visit in order to assert the country's sovereign rights over the resource-rich undersea region.

Duterte, who was onboard the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Davao del Sur, was only able to reach Casiguran Bay off Aurora province.

The presidential chopper carrying Duterte left the ship at 5:50 p.m., after he attended the program to commemorate the anniversary of the renaming of the uncontested region from Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.

Duterte, however, did send a 50-member science team to conduct research in the area. He also signed a presidential proclamation declaring parts of the Philippine Rise as a marine reserve.

It was earlier reported that Duterte might ride a jet ski in the waters of the Philippine Rise after at least seven units of the personal watercraft were spotted onboard the Philippine Navy vessel. —NB, GMA News