Audit of firm dumping waste in Subic sought

MANILA, Philippines - It is not enough that the operation of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, the US Navy’s private contractor in Subic, is suspended. A full accounting of its operations and service record is also in order.

This is according to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), saying they are not content with the assurance of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) that waste dumped by Glenn Defense was not toxic and brought far from Subic waters.

“The SBMA should conduct an audit of the entire operations of Glenn Defense, especially since this year alone, the contractor serviced US ships 37 times,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said.

Reyes said records show that among the ships that were serviced were nuclear attack submarines USS Hawaii, USS North Carolina and USS Texas, amphibious assault ships USS Essex and the hospital ship USNS Mercy, ”which may have had hospital wastes.“

“Why stop at just one incident? The SBMA is duty bound to review the entire operations of Glenn Defense to see if it is liable for other similar incidents in the past. What if this is not the only time this contractor violated the law?” he added.

Bayan said they are hoping that Glenn Defense’s license to operate in the Philippines will be permanently revoked.

The group attempted to serve a symbolic “notice of closure” at the office of Glenn Defense in Manila last Friday. The office is located near the US embassy.

Reyes said results of laboratory tests on waste samples were contrary to the claim of Glenn Defense that they were non-toxic.

“We again call on the Philippine government to not to allow any more port calls by US warships. These ships carry wastes and other hazardous materials. These ships expose our country and our ecosystem to hazardous materials. Why do we keep letting them in?” he said.