MANILA – Inanunsyo ng Department of National Defense (DND) nitong Martes na iniimbestigahan nila ang mga ulat tungkol sa sinasabing pagtatapon ng basura ng mga Chinese vessel sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“We have taken note of the news circulating online about the alleged dumping of waste in the South China Sea. Be that as it may, I have directed the Western Command who has jurisdiction over the WPS to verify and investigate,” sinabi ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana sa isang pahayag.

Ito ay nangyari matapos iniulat ng Simularity, isang geospatial imagery firm na nakabase sa Estados Unidos, na ang mga Chinese vessel ay nagtatapon ng dumi sa alkantarilya at basura sa dagat.

“However, the photo of a ship seen dumping waste accompanying the report was found to have been taken in the Australian Great Barrier Reef in 2014. Therefore, this intent to mislead has cast great doubt on the accurateness of the Simularity report. We also question the conclusion reached by Simularity from just looking at satellite photos,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi pa ni Lorenzana na, habang hindi pa natutukoy ng Pilipinas kung ang mga basurang ito ay itinapon sa WPS, ang mga hindi makatarungang aktibidad, kung napatunayan na totoo, ay magdudulot ng matinding pinsala sa karagatan ng rehiyon.

“Despite conflicting claims and interests by states in the South China Sea, all nations must be responsible stewards of our natural resources and environment,” dagdag niya.