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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan is not the
appropriate ship to help in the recovery effort of the sunken
vessel, MV Princess of the Stars, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said
Wednesday.
He was reacting to news reports quoting US
President George W. Bush as telling visiting President Gloria Arroyo
that his government is sending the aircraft carrier to help in the
search for survivors of the capsized ship.
The US Pacific Command previously ordered the
USS Stockham to proceed to Sibuyan Island in Romblon to help in the
rescue and recovery efforts.
Biazon, a former Philippine Marines general,
said the Ronald Reagan is a strategic and combat vessel whose main
assets are aircraft, mainly F-18 combat jets.
“What will the F-18s do for the Princess of
the Stars recovery? An aircraft carrier is not designed for salvage
[operations],” he said.
Nonetheless, he said he is thankful for any
assistance extended by any country, but he clings to hope that the
US would instead send ships with cranes and salvage equipment.
At the same time, he doubted that the docking of
the Ronald Reagan would violate the constitutional ban on nuclear
weapons.
“The USS Ronald Reagan is propelled by nuclear
reactors and that is not a weapon. Based on the current situation in
the world, especially after the Cold War, I do not expect the
vessels of the US Navy to be carrying nuclear weapons except the
submarines,” Biazon explained.
He added, however, that a simple declaration
that the Ronald Reagan has no nuclear weapon would suffice.
Senate inquiry
Biazon has already filed a resolution seeking a
Senate inquiry into the sinking of the Princess.
Also, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan
called for the immediate prosecution of Sulpicio Lines, saying the
shipping company has been involved in many sea tragedies already.
“If we will not deal with this latest tragedy
with resolve and urgency, we will be sending out the dangerous
message that negligent public transport operators can get away with
their malpractice,” he said.
Pangilinan said President Arroyo should
immediately return, go straight to the Department of Justice and
oversee the filing of criminal and civil cases against the guilty
parties “like she did before with suspected rice hoarders.”
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