Three senators filed Monday their respective Senate resolutions directing proper Senate committees to inquire into the alleged dumping of hazardous waste in Subic Bay by a US navy contractor.
Sen. Loren Legarda was the first to file Senate Resolution No. 294 directing the Senate committees on foreign relation and environment and natural resources to investigate the incident.
She was followed Sens. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Aquilino Pimentel III who filed SR Nos. 295 and 296, respectively.
The lawmakers called for a Senate probe after tanker MT Glenn Guardian, owned by Malaysian firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia, reportedly dumped 500 liters of domestic waste and 760 liters of bilge water (a combination of water, oil and grease) into Subic Bay.
The liquid waste aboard MT Glenn Guardian was collected from American ships that participated in the recently concluded joint military exercises in the country under the provisions of the VFA.
Pimentel noted the liquid waste was dumped into the sea adjoining the Subic Bay without the requisite permits from the Philippine Coast Guard and the SBMA Ecology Center.
“In flagrant breach of the standards set by international marine pollution conventions, the test results of the liquid waste taken from MT Glenn Guardian showed high toxic levels, indicating the highly hazardous nature of the liquid waste dumped into Philippine waters,” Pimentel said.
According to report, the ship captain Edilberto Acedilla claimed the water in the tanks had been treated but test results showed the wastes had not been treated at all.
”And that the level of toxicity of the liquid wastes exceeded the norm and went beyond levels set by international marine pollution conventions,” Santiago stated in her resolution.
Legarda chided the Malaysian company for claiming coverage under the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US to avoid investigation and possible criminal liability.
”This investigation, in aid of legislation, will be a necessary step for us to re-evaluate the implementation of our environmental laws and to ensure that implementation of treaties and agreements with other countries will continue to serve the paramount objective of protecting the national interest,” Legarda said.
Legarda stressed the need to establish how the VFA Commission ensures the enforcement of the VFA provisions guaranteeing respect for Philippine laws in connection with the implementation of the agreement and its related activities.
0 Comments
Oldest