CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Fisherfolk and environmental groups have asked Pres. Aquino to stop the transfer of salvaged parts of USS Guardian to Sasebo, Japan until the US government has “settled its obligations” arising from the grounding of the vessel at the damaged in Tubbataha Reef park last January 17.
In a joint press statement, the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Anakpawis party list said “Pres. Aquino, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), should first see to it that (certain) requirements are met before they proceed with the transfer to US homeport in Japan.”
The statement identified six requirements, that included the US government’s extraditing to the Philippines the military officials and the other 79 crew members of the USS Guardian “to face criminal and other appropriate charges before the local court.”
It also urged the US government “to immediately agree to urgent pull-out of all US troops, warships and aircraft currently inside the Philippine territory to prevent another disaster” and that the US government must “agree to an independent investigation” of the Tubattaha incident.”
“The US government should agree to pay for the cost of a long-running rehabilitation of Tubbataha Reef” and “should not discourage the Philippine government or any Filipinos from filing criminal and other appropriate charges against the American state before the International Criminal Court (ICC) or International Court of Justice,” the statement also said.
Finally, the statement also demanded the “abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)” between the US and Philippine governments.
“The 99 million Filipinos have a score to settle with US government and that is sovereignty, territorial integrity, social justice and rehabilitation. And all these concerns should be highly considered in dealing with Washington D.C,” said Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France and Anakpawis vice chair Fernando Hicap in a joint statement.
Their statement also said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy “should be immediately ordered by President Aquino to prevent the shipping and ensure the detention of salvaged parts of USS Guardian until the US government faithfully settles its obligations and faces the consequence of its military adventurism and aggression in the Philippines.”
“The US government and its military committed crimes, violated the sovereign rights of the people and caused major environmental wreckage in Tubbataha. The US government should be held accountable for this apocalyptic crime against the people,” the statement added.
Pamalakaya said the damage at Tubbataha Reef arising from the grounding of American vessel “will cost the country some P17.89 million in total fishery loss.”
“Small fisherfolk and fishworkers fishing in Sulu-Celebes Sea and East Palawan Sea would be the most affected sectors due to decline in fishing in areas near Tubbataha,” it said.
It also noted that “it will take 250 years before the damaged portion of Tubbataha would heal saying the generation and regeneration of 1,500 fish species and 360 kinds of corals would be extremely difficult.”
