Phillipines DOE warns on drilling near disputed waters

DOE warns Forum Energy on drilling near disputed waters - Phillippines ABS-CBN News | Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla cautioned an exploration company from proceeding with drilling operations after getting the nod of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development to explore 880,000 hectares of seas, 80 nautical miles from Palawan for oil and natural gas. Forum Energy, partly owned by business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, had already obtained service contract 72 from the DOE covering areas near the Recto bank, an area also disputed by China. ...While Petilla maintained that Recto Bank is entirely within Philippine territory, it is not wise to commence drilling operation to avoid any untoward incidents.