USS Guardian probe 90% done; report expected this week

From GMA News (May 26): USS Guardian probe 90% done; report expected this week

The Philippine Coast Guard expects to submit this week its report on the Jan. 17 grounding of the minesweeper USS Guardian at Tubbataha Reef.

Coast Guard commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena expects to submit the report to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, radio dzBB reported Sunday.

The report said the Coast Guard its report is now 90 percent done and once it is submitted to Abaya for his review, then it will be sent to President Benigno Aquino.

Last April, the Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) received relevant documents on the incident from the US Navy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the MCIT's safety inquiry also aims to identify measures the Philippines and US may adopt to prevent a repeat of the incident.

The USS Guardian ran aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17, and damaged 2,345.67 square meters of the reef.

It was cut into chunks and completely removed from the area last March 30.

A news release from the Tubbataha Management Office said the fines for the Jan. 17 grounding may amount to P58.4 million ($1.5 million).

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/310141/news/nation/uss-guardian-probe-90-done-report-expected-this-week