BAYAN: Bayan seeks deeper probe of Glenn Defense operations

From the pro-CPP Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance) Website (Nov 24): Bayan seeks deeper probe of Glenn Defense operations

While welcoming the suspension of Glenn Defense Marine Asia’s operations in Subic, umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan wants a full accounting of the operations and service record of the US Navy’s private contractor in the Philippines. It also sought the permanent revocation of the contractor’s license to operate in the country. Bayan said that it is also not content with the assurances of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority that the waste disposed by Glenn Defense was not toxic and that these were 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. Records will show that among the ships that were serviced by the contractor were nuclear attack submarines such as the USS Hawaii, USS North Carolina and USS Texas, amphibious assault ships like the USS Essex and the hospital ship USNS Mercy which may have had hospital wastes, “said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.....  The group said that even if the SBMA would say that the waste dumped were “not toxic”, the laboratory tests conducted on the samples speak for themselves. “Unless the SBMA reverses the finding of Subic Water, the samples showed high level s of toxicity. SBMA should stop splitting hairs on this issue and just call a spade a spade. What was dumped has the potential to destroy the ecosystem,” Reyes said. “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?” Reyes asked. “At the core of the issue is the VFA. Even if Glenn Marine is banned, there will be other private contractors that will collect the toxic wastes. So long as US ships are allowed to enter our country, we will be exposed to their toxic cargo. For this reason, the VFA must end” he said.

http://www.bayan.ph/site/2012/11/bayan-seeks-deeper-probe-of-glenn-defense-operations/