Chiz seeks probe on
toxic dumping charges
By Office of Senator Chiz
Escudero
November 9, 2012
PASAY CITY –
Senator Chiz Escudero is seeking an investigation into the reported
dumping by a contractor of the United States Navy of hazardous wastes
on Subic Bay last month.
“The government should
investigate this alarming report immediately. Such activity, if indeed
it took place, could prove to be an environmental disaster,” Escudero
said.
“If its proven that Glen
Defense Marine Asia had indeed dumped hazardous wastes on Subic Bay,
they should immediately be made to dispose of the wastes properly as
mandated by our environmental laws and international ecological
standards and pay for all damages,” the senator added.
Escudero chairs the Senate
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Reports said the Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority is now investigating Glen Defense Marine Asia
after it claimed one of the contractor’s vessels, the M/T Glenn
Guardian, dumped wastes collected from US ships that participated in
the recent joint military exercises in the Philippines.
Test results of water
samples conducted by Subic Water and Sewerage Co. allegedly showed
very high levels of toxicity. SWSC was contracted by SBMA to conduct
the tests following the alleged dumping.
Escudero also wants the
Department of Foreign Affairs to make representations to prevent
similar incidents in the future.
Earlier, Glen Defense Marine
Asia claimed through its lawyers that the SBMA had no jurisdiction to
investigate it, invoking the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US
and the Philippines.
“Our laws are clear on
environmental protection, particularly Republic Act 9275 or The
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 if indeed hazardous wastes were
dumped on Subic Bay,” the senator said.
“The main point that we need
to determine at this point is whether hazardous wastes were dumped on
Philippine waters and if so, how do we proceed to clean up, hold the
contractor accountable, and make sure that such an incident does not
take place again in the future,” Escudero added.