MANILA, March 15 -- The naval detachment in the province of Aurora will greatly enhance the country's capability to protect its maritime interests in the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) and improve its defense posture.

This came as Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. visited a detachment of the Naval Installations and Facilities - Northern Luzon (NIF-NL) in the town of Casiguran, together with other ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"The naval detachment, constructed and facilitated in cooperation with the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), will boost the AFP's presence in the area and enhance security in the Philippine Rise and Philippine Sea...