House to probe waste dumping in Subic Bay

 The MT Glenn Guardian docked at Alava Pier on Subic Bay.  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — House minority leader Danilo Suarez on Wednesday said their bloc would launch an investigation into the alleged dumping of toxic waste in Subic Bay involving a US Navy contractor.

In a press conference, he said they would look into the issue despite the admission made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 3 that the waste materials dumped by Glenn Defense Marine Asia Incorporated were neither nuclear nor chemical byproducts.

Citing information that Subic Water and Sewerage Co. “had no capability to test the presence of heavy metals,” Suarez said that results on tests conducted earlier were “still not conclusive whether the sample is toxic or not.”

“This precisely underscores the need for investigation into the matter,” he said.

The minority leader added that an investigation would be key to clarifying what kind of waste was dumped by the Malaysian-based contractor in Philippine waters.