Palace: Govt probe will have access to USS Guardian crew

The Philippine government will have access to the crew of the USS Guardian in its probe of the minesweeper’s grounding at Tubbataha Reef, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte cited a pronouncement from Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya that the Philippines will have access to these crewmembers. “I think from the pronouncement of Sec. Abaya, we will be given access to them in the course of the investigation,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. She disclosed this in response to reported calls from militant groups to have the minesweeper’s officers and crew extradited to face an investigation. But when asked if this means the crewmembers may be recalled to the Philippines, she said the Philippines can at least get their testimonies. “I don’t know the parameters but we can get their testimonies for the investigation,” she said. The USS Guardian ran aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17, and has been stuck there ever since. The ship has also been crippled. Salvage crews are working to get the ship out of the reef, considered a UNESCO heritage site. Last week, the crane ship JASCON 25 tried to establish position near the crippled ship, with its crew placing reference beacons near the minesweeper. — BM, GMA News