By Gerry Baldo and Angie M. Rosales
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
“I charge the United States for failing to comply with, and for violating, Philippine law, as well as international norms and customs on the protection and preservation of the environment as these obligations are now codified respectively in articles 192 and 211 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Santiago said during a speaking engagement last Saturday.
In these trying times where the country is being made to appear as an underdog, Angara said the government should always weight in the considering first the diplomatic relations with ally countries.
The VFA is covered by the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the American government and considered a “defense umbrella” of the Philippines under the agreement.
Angara admitted that the government will face serious consequences should Malacañang decide to abrogate the VFA with the US.
“We cannot afford that (to lose the US as an ally). We cannot. The abrogation of the VFA is entirely separate from the issue of pollution,” he said.
“We cannot be solely dependent on the US. But what is important is that we take a hard and close look on what will be more beneficial to the country,” Angara stressed.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, for his part, also yesterday volunteered his information about the alleged toxic dumping incident in Subic Bay in a bid to ensure that both Glenn Defense Marine Asia and the US Armed Forces are made accountable “I charge the United States for failing to comply with, and for violating, Philippine law, as well as international norms and customs on the protection and preservation of the environment as these obligations are now codified respectively in articles 192 and 211 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Santiago said during a speaking engagement last Saturday.
In these trying times where the country is being made to appear as an underdog, Angara said the government should always weight in the considering first the diplomatic relations with ally countries.
The VFA is covered by the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the American government and considered a “defense umbrella” of the Philippines under the agreement.
Angara admitted that the government will face serious consequences should Malacañang decide to abrogate the VFA with the US.
“We cannot afford that (to lose the US as an ally). We cannot. The abrogation of the VFA is entirely separate from the issue of pollution,” he said.
“We cannot be solely dependent on the US. But what is important is that we take a hard and close look on what will be more beneficial to the country,” Angara stressed.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, for his part, also yesterday volunteered his information about the alleged toxic dumping incident in Subic Bay in a bid to ensure that both Glenn Defense Marine Asia and the US Armed Forces are made accountable for health and environmental hazards that their activities posed to the Philippines.
Bello said he went on a fact-finding mission to Subic last Friday, where he spoke with US Navy Capt. Glenn Pendrick, commander of USS Emory Land currently being serviced at Alava Pier in Subic.
He added his fact-finding mission has revealed information that establishes “a very alarming threat” that US Navy activities pose on the health of communities and the environment around Subic.
“We have an admission from Captain Pendrick that US Navy vessels such as USS Emory Land have the capacity to extract nuclear waste from US submarines. He also clarified that his ship does not have waste treatment facilities on board, directly belying the claims of Glenn Defense Marine that the wastes they collect from US vessels are pre-treated and are thus safe for disposal,” Bello explained.
“If the Senate deems it necessary, these are very important information that I would willingly provide in the effort to determine the liability of both Glenn Defense Marine and the US Navy in the toxic dumping incident,” he added.
Given the recent development, Bello underscored the need for the Philippine government to immediately scrap the country’s VFA with the United States.
Given the recent development, Bello underscored the need for the Philippine government to immediately scrap the country’s VFA with the United States.
He stressed the alleged toxic dumping incident and the fact-finding mission revealed the dangers of the continuation of the VFA.
“The toxic dumping incident and the activities of USS Emory Land are damning evidence against the VFA, it points us to the logical conclusion that the VFA must be scrapped,” he added.
From his talks with Pendrick, Bello said the USS Emory Land is a submarine tender that services US attack and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) submarines. It has the capacity to extract nuclear waste from submarines. It is homeported in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
“The government and Congress must investigate if indeed the USS Emory Land did not transfer nuclear waste to the Glenn Marine vessel. Most US submarines are nuclear-powered. Certainly, all ICBM subs are nuclear-powered, and they contain nuclear weapons as well. We are talking about nuclear waste that can cause major health and environmental damage not only for this generation but for succeeding generations. This is a matter of grave national concern, and certainly deserves much closer scrutiny,” Bello said.
He clarified that while Pendrick said that nuclear waste extraction was not typical to their activities, and that no nuclear waste was included in those that were transferred to Glenn Defense Marine, the potential for these activities to happen without the knowledge of the Philippine government is cause enough to worry.
“This administration, like those preceding it, may have given the US Navy freedom to do as it pleases under the VFA, but we in the legislative cannot stand by while American troops threaten the very existence of our constituents, and our environment. We in the legislative must look thoroughly into this matter and scrap the VFA to protect the interests of the people,” Bello concluded.
A ranking administration lawmaker, meanwhile, expressed serious doubts about the government’s investigation of the dumping incident.
The lawmaker, who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter, said the inquiry being conducted by naval officials could be going nowhere.
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