US Navy: We regret Tubataha Reef incident

[chua_riwap]

very busy na naman ang mga "red flag" waving groups sa US Embassy.

hoy....lumipat naman kayo sa chinese embassy. mag rally rin kayo roon!
halatang-halata kayo.


US Navy expresses regret for Tubbataha incident | ABS-CBN News

US Navy expresses regret for Tubbataha incident


MANILA, Philippines – A commander of the United States Navy on Monday expressed regret for the grounding of the USS Guardian last week, which damaged the protected Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea.

In a statement, U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift said he “greatly regret(s) any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef.”

The USS Guardian had come from a port call in Subic Bay and was on its way to Indonesia when it ran aground the Tubbataha Reef early morning Thursday. At least 10 meters of the coral reef have been damaged.

“We know the significance of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and its importance as a World heritage Site. Its protection is vital, and we take seriously our obligations to protect and preserve the maritime environment,” Swift said.

Swift said Rear Adm. Thomas Carney will take over as the on-scene commander on January 21 to oversee the Guardian recovery operations.

Carney, the Commander of Logistics Group in Western Pacific, will embark the destroyer USS Mustin. Along with other US Navy vessels, the USS Mustin “is focused on preventing any further environmental damage to the reef and surrounding marine environment.”

The U.S. Navy said that there has been no change on the Guardian’s condition and there are no traces of an oil slick in the area.

“When the Guardian is safely recovered by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. government will continue to work with the Philippine government to assess the extent of the damage to reef and the surrounding marine environment caused by the grounding,” the U.S. Navy said.

Meanwhile, an assessment team from the U.S. Navy has already arrived in Palawan to work on the extraction of the USS Guardian from the Tubbataha Reef.

Lt. Commander Ralph Kris Hooper, public affairs officer of the U.S. 7th Fleet, said the extraction team includes engineers, divers, and other essential personnel.

Filipino lawmakers have begun questioning the U.S. warship’s presence in Philippine waters.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, is asking if the ship had authorized access.

“Were we informed of its presence in our territory? Why can’t we have official word from concerned authorities about the official status of the ship in our waters?” Escudero asked.

Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, wants the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Philippine Coast Guard to explain why the USS Guardian was in the waters near the Tubbataha Reef, which are considered a “no navigation area.”

UNESCO declared the Tubbataha Reef a World Heritage Site in 1993. It covers 130,028 hectares and is home to thousands of marine species. With a report from ANC and The Philippine Star.

[kinyo]

nabuking yata pakalat-kalat ang barko sa dagat ... sana dun sila sa kabilang side ng palawan ... andun yung dapat nilang bantayan eh

[Monseratto]

I wonder how will the PH goverment demand restitution for any damage to the habitat. And how will it react if the USN refuse to pay...Will they ban the Seventh Fleet from entering the PH? Who needs who now?

[ronki]

May say ba ang mga kaliwete nung na stuck din yung chinese vessel satin?

[vinj]

I wonder how will the PH goverment demand restitution for any damage to the habitat. And how will it react if the USN refuse to pay...Will they ban the Seventh Fleet from entering the PH? Who needs who now?

AFAIK, there's a cost per square whatever of reef destroyed.

How come when the Chinese vessel got grounded in the West Philippine Sea, walang epal? (cough... cough... ano BAYAN).

[Ry_Tower]

^^Don't bite the hand that feeds the d_ _ _?

nabuking yata pakalat-kalat ang barko sa dagat ... sana dun sila sa kabilang side ng palawan ... andun yung dapat nilang bantayan eh

Hehe, oo nga ano, papano kaya kung sa Chinese islands banda na-bahura!? :D

[CoDer]

Hayaan nyo silang punasan ang pwet ng China in the future.

[chua_riwap]

"erroneous navigation chart" daw ang dahilan.
or.... gusto lang mag R&R yung crew ng USS guardian at mag scuba diving sa tubbattaha, kaso nagaka aberya.
buking.........

[vinj]

I read somewhere that the Detachment or park rangers in the area was trying to warn the ship but they did not listen... Kinda like that Lighthouse joke before eh. :D

Meanwhile, while activists and "politicians" holler for blood... Chinese 'occupation' of Bajo de Masinloc could reduce PH territorial waters by 38 percent - InterAksyon.com

[CVT]

Baka cover lang nila iyan to stay there for extended period of time,- at may ini-"install" sila...

17.8K:snow:

[boybi]

"erroneous navigation chart" daw ang dahilan.
or.... gusto lang mag R&R yung crew ng USS guardian at mag scuba diving sa tubbattaha, kaso nagaka aberya.
buking.........

Apple Maps siguro gamit nila

[Boy Bastos]

Building upon the products developed from mapping, survey and intelligence operations, mine countermeasure oriented surveillance operations must be initiated at the first sign of increasing tensions in a geographic region of interest. Surveillance assets and intelligence sources are employed to obtain an updated and increasingly detailed assessment of mine production and stockpile locations, mine-laying platform locations, and readiness of a potential adversary mining force.

MCM Concept of Operations

Looks like USN is updating their map to prepare for something?

[chua_riwap]

trump jr. umi-epal pa.
in defense of USS Sadsad......

kopal ka trump.



http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01...important-reef

Trump Jr: USS Guardian more important than reef

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - The son of real estate mogul Donald Trump is incensed with the decision to scrap the $277 million USS Guardian after it crashed into the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan.

In his Twitter account, businessman Donald Trump Jr. posted a link to a Washington Free Beacon article that said the US minesweeper will have to be cut up into small pieces in order to prevent the harming of the ocean’s ecosystem.

"This is how stupid we are! $1/4 bil+ ho hum “*DRUDGE_REPORT: Navy to scrap $277 million ship to avoid scraping reef... Navy cuts up $277M minesweeper | Washington Free Beacon "


Several of his followers, however, chastised Trump, saying that Tubbataha Reef is a World Heritage site.

One user, Adam Quirrk (*adamq11), even asked Trump: "A boat is more important than a coral reef?"

Trump replied: "Not the whole reef but yes a 277mil boat is more important than a 200x50 section of reef that has already been run over."

He added: "yes because very the small section of reef that has Already been run over is is worth 1/4bil Obamanomics much?"

Trump said the ship only damaged a small portion of the reef. He also blasted the decision of the US government to pay cleanup costs.

"*BrianRad5 please cleanup costs? The ship is 200 by 50 at most on the edge of a reef. it hit and stopped give me a break 277 million," he tweeted.

He said the USS Guardian did not destroy the entire reef but "a chunk the size of a boat."

"That is not worth 277 million by any standard," he said.

Several Filipinos, meanwhile, hit Trump Jr. for his remarks.

Former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco tweeted: "*Anthony_Andres *donaldjtrumpjr Kapag isang barko ba natin ang naaksidente ng ganoon, ganoon din ang singil?"

Celebrity tourist guide Carlos Celdran added: "*DonaldJTrumpJr *DRUDGE_REPORT This is our natural resources. US should spend more than 277 million to repair damage. Jeez. A**hole much?"

The youth group Anakbayan also called on President Aquino to declare Trump Jr., as well as all American military forces, as "persona non grata."

"Trump Jr.’s attitude towards the Tubbataha Reef reflects that of the U.S military and government’s general view towards the Philippines: as a colony. Thus, their lack of respect for our sovereignty and national heritage," said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan.

[Monseratto]

"I doubt the damaged caused would exceed the cost of the ship"... . Problem is the americans got caught and happens to be the favorite punching bag of the leftist commies treehuggers.

[shadow]

Hypocrites! Yun ibang natural reservation ng pinas kalbo na Wala naman kayong pakialam...yun mga bundok, yun ilog, dagag polluted na lahat! Pwe!

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[yapoy86]

"I doubt the damaged caused would exceed the cost of the ship"... . Problem is the americans got caught and happens to be the favorite punching bag of the leftist commies treehuggers.

Hypocrites! Yun ibang natural reservation ng pinas kalbo na Wala naman kayong pakialam...yun mga bundok, yun ilog, dagag polluted na lahat! Pwe!

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

the funny thing is, they always boast their high tech gadgets, and yet this ship, able to sweep mines got caught by the humble reef..

the ship can be replaced immediately.. the reef will take a looooong time to heal

[Monseratto]

Just in case you're wondering what happened to the ship...

SULU SEA (March 12, 2013) The U.S. Navy contracted vessels Jascon 25 and the tugboat Archon Tide are positioned next to the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship ex-Guardian (MCM 5) during salvage operations. Guardian ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine authorities to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim/Released)

[CVT]

So, nandoon pa rin?....

18.5K:mail:

[yapoy86]

kitang kita yung edge ng reef... malabo na maalis yung ship dyan.. kailangan talaga baklasin.. kasi kahit hilahin nila yan baka lumubog lang din

[baludoy]

gumapang na din iyong guardian papasok pala

ganda siguro talaga sa tubattaha.