Solons on US navy blunder: No excuses

MANILA, Philippines - Party-list representatives refused to buy American Navy official's alibi on why minesweeper USS Guardian became lodged on the Philippines' Tubbataha Reef.

Responding to US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift's apology for a faulty navigation chart that caused the 68-meter US Navy vessel to run aground, Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said told reporters on Wednesday that they found the error inexcusable.

“From the most technologically advanced country, to use a map and a faulty one at that, it is rubbing salt to injury,” Ilagan said.

Casiño also criticized the US' questionable presence on Philippine waters and faulted them for destroying the marine park, which is home to thousands of marine species.

"And we are supposed to swallow their excuse hook, line and sinker? ... What is a minesweeper doing there in the first place?" Casiño asked.

The solons said the fleet trespassed and violated international marine laws in entering the Philippine coast albeit the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries.

“The Aquino administration should support the abrogation of the VFA to ensure the integrity of our marine ecosystems, protect our fisheries and to effectively make erring US entities accountable,” Casiño added.

The party-list representative, author of a joint House resolution terminating the VFA, cited a Tubbataha Protected Area Management report saying the US Navy exhibited "uncooperation" with government authorities in refusing park rangers' queries on the reef's damage.