The US Navy contractor at the center of a waste dumping scandal on Subic Bay insisted Monday it is a responsible company, as the case prompted calls in the Senate to review the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which the contractor allegedly tried to use as shield to avoid an investigation. The Singapore –based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Phils. Inc. claimed it was only releasing “pre-treated waste” and not toxic waste in Subic Bay as earlier reported. “I categorically state that we release only water that has been treated and deemed suitable for release to the ocean…Everyone in our company has complied [with] and is committed to comply without compromise with internationally established laws and procedure to protect the environment,” retired Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, Chairman and CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Philippines, said in a press conference in Makati City. Mayuga described as “inaccurate or false” stories about his company, stressing that they are open to investigation by authorities. The company drew fire after reportedly using the VFA to bolster its claim that it was outside the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which had ultimate control over the Freeport—a bustling commercial zone transformed from a sprawling US naval base until the bases treaty was not extended in 1991. On Sunday, Malacanang Palace ruled out any possibility that the contractor would be allowed to use the VFA, stressing that it trusted the SBMA to conduct a full inquiry into the matter. “I would like to believe that this started from one inaccurate report that took on a life of its own. That is why I also appeal to the media to please be fair and accurate and please honor only sources that are willing to be quoted,” Mayuga said. The company, he explained, handles domestic waste coming from ships. This is waste that comes from toilets and kitchens. “These domestic wastes are already pretreated by the Navy ships before they are handed over to us. Pre-treating means the resulting fluid is strained and rendered inert or harmless and ready to be released at sea,” he explained. The standard releasing is at 12 miles from the shore as prescribed by the Maritime Pollution Protocol to which the Philippines is a signatory. The retired navy official also stressed that they are not claiming cover under the VFA. “We service only US navy ships but we are not in any way included in VFA arrangements,” he added. He also hinted at suspicions that their “competitors” were behind the series of supposed exposes. “We will answer that (who is behind the report) in a proper forum. There are competitiors and we are the winning bidder…alam mo naman tayong Pilipino [you know how it is with us Filipinos],” he said.
Monday, November 12, 2012
US Navy contractor: we threw only pre-treated waste, did not invoke VFA
From InterAksyon (Nov 12): US Navy contractor: we threw only pre-treated waste, did not invoke VFA
The US Navy contractor at the center of a waste dumping scandal on Subic Bay insisted Monday it is a responsible company, as the case prompted calls in the Senate to review the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which the contractor allegedly tried to use as shield to avoid an investigation. The Singapore –based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Phils. Inc. claimed it was only releasing “pre-treated waste” and not toxic waste in Subic Bay as earlier reported. “I categorically state that we release only water that has been treated and deemed suitable for release to the ocean…Everyone in our company has complied [with] and is committed to comply without compromise with internationally established laws and procedure to protect the environment,” retired Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, Chairman and CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Philippines, said in a press conference in Makati City. Mayuga described as “inaccurate or false” stories about his company, stressing that they are open to investigation by authorities. The company drew fire after reportedly using the VFA to bolster its claim that it was outside the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which had ultimate control over the Freeport—a bustling commercial zone transformed from a sprawling US naval base until the bases treaty was not extended in 1991. On Sunday, Malacanang Palace ruled out any possibility that the contractor would be allowed to use the VFA, stressing that it trusted the SBMA to conduct a full inquiry into the matter. “I would like to believe that this started from one inaccurate report that took on a life of its own. That is why I also appeal to the media to please be fair and accurate and please honor only sources that are willing to be quoted,” Mayuga said. The company, he explained, handles domestic waste coming from ships. This is waste that comes from toilets and kitchens. “These domestic wastes are already pretreated by the Navy ships before they are handed over to us. Pre-treating means the resulting fluid is strained and rendered inert or harmless and ready to be released at sea,” he explained. The standard releasing is at 12 miles from the shore as prescribed by the Maritime Pollution Protocol to which the Philippines is a signatory. The retired navy official also stressed that they are not claiming cover under the VFA. “We service only US navy ships but we are not in any way included in VFA arrangements,” he added. He also hinted at suspicions that their “competitors” were behind the series of supposed exposes. “We will answer that (who is behind the report) in a proper forum. There are competitiors and we are the winning bidder…alam mo naman tayong Pilipino [you know how it is with us Filipinos],” he said.
The US Navy contractor at the center of a waste dumping scandal on Subic Bay insisted Monday it is a responsible company, as the case prompted calls in the Senate to review the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which the contractor allegedly tried to use as shield to avoid an investigation. The Singapore –based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Phils. Inc. claimed it was only releasing “pre-treated waste” and not toxic waste in Subic Bay as earlier reported. “I categorically state that we release only water that has been treated and deemed suitable for release to the ocean…Everyone in our company has complied [with] and is committed to comply without compromise with internationally established laws and procedure to protect the environment,” retired Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, Chairman and CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Philippines, said in a press conference in Makati City. Mayuga described as “inaccurate or false” stories about his company, stressing that they are open to investigation by authorities. The company drew fire after reportedly using the VFA to bolster its claim that it was outside the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which had ultimate control over the Freeport—a bustling commercial zone transformed from a sprawling US naval base until the bases treaty was not extended in 1991. On Sunday, Malacanang Palace ruled out any possibility that the contractor would be allowed to use the VFA, stressing that it trusted the SBMA to conduct a full inquiry into the matter. “I would like to believe that this started from one inaccurate report that took on a life of its own. That is why I also appeal to the media to please be fair and accurate and please honor only sources that are willing to be quoted,” Mayuga said. The company, he explained, handles domestic waste coming from ships. This is waste that comes from toilets and kitchens. “These domestic wastes are already pretreated by the Navy ships before they are handed over to us. Pre-treating means the resulting fluid is strained and rendered inert or harmless and ready to be released at sea,” he explained. The standard releasing is at 12 miles from the shore as prescribed by the Maritime Pollution Protocol to which the Philippines is a signatory. The retired navy official also stressed that they are not claiming cover under the VFA. “We service only US navy ships but we are not in any way included in VFA arrangements,” he added. He also hinted at suspicions that their “competitors” were behind the series of supposed exposes. “We will answer that (who is behind the report) in a proper forum. There are competitiors and we are the winning bidder…alam mo naman tayong Pilipino [you know how it is with us Filipinos],” he said.
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