Philippines Law Fines AL United States

                            

MANILA, KOMPAS.com - The Philippine government on Tuesday (22/01/2013), fined the U.S. Navy after the USS Guardian, a minesweeper, considered trespassing into force Tubbataha reef protected.

fixed financial penalty imposed even though the U.S. Navy had apologized officially. Force Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, located 130 km from the island of Palawan has been entered into the UNESCO world heritage list.

The Philippine government specifically protects this region with laws that prohibit all types of vessels navigating this area except for the purposes of research and travel, and have authorization from the regional manager.

As per the law, the violation is punishable by a maximum of one year imprisonment and a fine of up to 7300 dollars.

A cluster Reef Tubbataha Management Board, Jose Loresnzo Tan said the board had agreed to impose a fine without imprisonment.

"We have decided to impose a fine," said Tan, who is also the President of WWF-Philippines.

Unfortunately, Tan reluctant to specify the amount of fines to be imposed on the United States Navy . He only added that the fine would be imposed after the stranded ship was evacuated.

Earlier, the Chief Supervisor Tubbataha Marine Park Angelique Songco said that park rangers had warned officers of USS Guardian radioed that the ship was nearing rock group protected.

However, the captain stated that the marine park guards objected to the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Meanwhile, the commander of the 7th Fleet to the U.S. Navy, Vice Admiral Scott Swift from his base in Japan has officially apologized to the Philippine government over the incident.

Scott said 68 meters long warship that was now stranded in the middle of the journey to Indonesia after visiting a port in the north of Manila.