THE League of Filipino Students (LFS) decries the latest incursion and grounding of a foreign vessel at Tubbataha reef.
The Chinese fishing vessel with hull number 63168 ran aground the reef last April 9 just as the USS Guardian was finally cleared from the area. Twelve fishermen were on-board the vessel.
“The government must resolutely prosecute those at fault for the grounding while conducting a thorough investigation of the circumstances that lead to the vessel’s entry. We must be able to show that we value our sovereignty and the environment,” says Isabelle Baguisi, LFS spokesperson.
“Financial remuneration, a commitment to help in rehabilitation, and a promise that such incursions will not happen again is necessary. The government must pursue these demands for both US and Chinese cases of grounding and destruction in Tubbataha. We cannot be overly lenient with one while being overly aggressive with the other. They must be dealt with in the same manner but with punishment equal to the degree of damage that they caused.”
“However, this new incursion must not be used as an excuse to further pursue the Balikatan exercises and the Visiting Forces Agreement. Let us not forget that it was the US minesweeper, the USS Guardian, that set the precedent for incursions and the lax handling of such an event,” Baguisi said.