4 USS Guardian officers relieved

MANILA, Philippines - The commanding officer and three crewmembers of the USS Guardian have been relieved of duty after they were found to have failed to adhere to standard navigation procedures at the time of the grounding of the minesweeper in Tubbataha Reef, officials said yesterday.

All four sailors have been reassigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 7 based in Sasebo, Japan, pending completion of the investigation into the grounding as initiated by 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Scott Swift.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the relief of USS Guardian officers would not affect the outcome of the investigation by the Philippine team.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the US Navy’s decision to relieve the four was “apart” from the independent investigation on the cause of the grounding of the minesweeper.

“We take note of that report and we respect the decision on the relief of the officers and crew members by the US Navy as they did not adhere to standard of US Navy navigation procedure based on the report of the US Pacific Fleet Public Affairs,” Hernandez said.

The Philippines and the United States are set to conduct a joint damage assessment in Tubbataha on Monday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippine investigating team would be in Japan this week to examine documentary and physical evidence as well as meet with the US investigating team.

Meanwhile, the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the relief and reassignment of four officials of the USS Guardian do not necessarily translate to full accountability, and are inadequate as far as Philippine laws are concerned.

Bayan said the US troops still need to be held accountable for violating the Tubbataha law and Philippine sovereignty.

The group said the relief of the Guardian officials was only to appease the public rather than an act to exact full accountability.

“The relief comes just a day before the kick-off of the Balikatan war games in the Philippines, and may be intended to gain the US some positive media mileage,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said although the Guardian has been completely removed from the reef, it left behind a trace that is visible from the air.

PCG commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, who visited the grounding site on Monday, said there are now two ways to look at the marine sanctuary.

From above, one would notice an imprint or outline where the 68-meter long warship sat for 73 days. However, from a side view no trace of damage could be seen.

 â€“ AP, Rhodina Villanueva, Evelyn Macairan