Fact-finding group recommends charges vs USS Guardian crew

MANILA, Philippines - An independent fact-finding group has recommended to the provincial government of Palawan the filing of charges against the officials and crew of the United States Navy's USS Guardian.

The 15-man fact-finding mission led by the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), submitted its recommendations on the Tubbataha incident to the Office of Palawan Gov. Abraham Mitra.

The US Navy minesweeper ran aground in Tubbataha Reef while in transit to its destination on January 17.

The mission proposed that to prevent similar incidents, the Philippine government should consider the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and other existing military pacts with the US.

The mission, meanwhile, appealed to the provincial government of Palawan to drop the cases against operators ad crew of small commercial fishing vessels charged by the Tubbataha Reef management officials.

It also called for the immediate release of fishing boats impounded by the reef park management officials.

In February, the US government apologized for the incident and pledged to compensate for the damage on the Tubbataha Reef.

It said that the compensation will come in a package including a P4.1 million grant for coral restoration and funding for the improvement of the natural park and a joint scientific assessment of the reefs for rehabilitation.

“In view of the damage caused by the USS Guardian accident at Tubbataha Reefs, the US has expressed it regrets and is prepared to provide appropriate compensation to the Republic of the Philippines. In addition to compensation, the US government is planning a number of other activities which will underscore its commitment to Tubbataha’s recovery and the protection of the marine resources of the Philippines,” the US embassy in Manila said in a statement.