MANILA, Philippines - Binayaran na ng pamahalaan ng Estados Unidos ang $2.2 M (P87M) pinsalang nilikha ng USS Guardian matapos itong sumadsad sa Tubbataha Reef sa Palawan noong Enero 2013.
Batay sa ipinadalang press statement ng US Embassy:“The United States deeply regrets the incident at the Tubbataha Reef and the damage caused to the reef and has agreed to the total amount of compensation requested by the Philippine government of 87 million pesos ($2.02 million US dollars)”. The payment was transferred on January 20, 2015. We are grateful for the assistance of the Philippines in coordinating with the United States to address this accident, reflecting the deep and enduring alliance between our two nations”, dagdag pa ng US Embassy.
Magugunita na sumadsad ang USS Guardian sa Tubbataha Reef, isang world heritage site noong Enero 17,2013 habang patungo sa Indonesia matapos itong dumaan sa Sulu Sea at umabot sa 2,345.676 square meters ang napinsalang mga coral.
Sinabi naman ni Tubbataha Management Office Park Manager Angelique Songco, na masaya sila at matapos ang dalawang taong pagkakaantala ay nagbayad na rin sa wakas sa nilikhang pinsala ang gobyerno ng Estados Unidos.- Joy Cantos-