A ranking United States diplomat on Wednesday relayed to President
Benigno Aquino III the US government's apology for the grounding of the
US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian in Tubbataha Reef.
US Embassy in Manila deputy chief of mission Brian Goldbeck tweeted he
also conveyed to Aquino the US' condolences over six Filipinos killed in
a hostage situation in Algeria.
"(I) conveyed
to President Aquino condolences for (the six Filipinos) killed in
Algeria and (the US government's) apology for the Tubbataha accident,
(and that we are) grateful for recovery help," he said on his Twitter account.
He was referring to the six Filipinos killed in a hostage-taking in Algeria last week. At least four Filipinos also remained unaccounted for.
Also last week, the USS Guardian ran aground in Tubbataha Reef, a heritage site. The US Navy expressed regret over the incident.
Goldbeck said he similarly offered condolences for the six Filipinos killed in Algeria, and conveyed the US' "regrets" for the USS Guardian incident to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, the head of the US 7th Fleet over the weekend expressed regret over the grounding of the minesweeper.
Vice Admiral Scott Swift said he recognizes the significance of the
Tubbataha Reef natural park and its importance as a World Heritage Site.
"As a protector of the sea and a sailor myself, I greatly regret any
damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef. We know the
significance of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and its importance as a
World Heritage Site. Its protection is vital, and we take seriously our
obligations to protect and preserve the maritime environment," he said
in a statement posted on the US Navy website early Monday, Manila time.
Before leaving a port visit in Subic Bay, the USS Guardian canceled a scheduled fuel stop to Puerto Princesa City.
It departed Olongapo City en route to Indonesia and was transiting the
Sulu Sea when the grounding occurred at about 2:25 a.m. Thursday.
The Avenger-class USS Guardian, based in Sasebo, Japan, remains stuck
on Tubbataha Reef's south atoll, about 80 miles east-southeast of
Palawan.
On Wednesday, a resolution was filed at the Senate seeking a formal inquiry on the grounding of USS Guardian in Tubbataha Reef. —KG, GMA News
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