SENATORIAL candidate Teddy Casiño joined netizens in Twitter questioning the remarks of Donald Trump Jr., son of the famous US tycoon, who belittled the loss of coral reefs in Tubbataha Reef.
The young Trump said the US would be stupid to dismantle the USS Guardian to avoid further scraping the World Heritage Site. In a reply to another Twitter user he said, “A $227 million boat is more important than a 200×50 section of reef that has already been run over.”
The progressive solon replied, “@DonaldJTrumpJr your 277mil killing machine can never be more important than even a small section of reef that gives life to the oceans.”
Casiño said Trump Jr.’s posts reflect the US sentiment that their Navy vessel is of greater importance than the Tubbataha Reef.
While the USS Guardian’s measurable cost is $277 million, the estimated value of the damaged section of Tubbataha Reef alone is over $342 million, based on scientific studies previously done with coral reefs. This is using the earlier estimates of 1000 sq meters affected, and this will surely increase given that the salvaging operation’s method will cause more damage. This estimate also does not include the domino effect it will surely have on interconnected marine ecosystems. No valuation can ever approximate the destruction of our environment in the first place.
Casiño, together with Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, on Monday filed House Resolution 3012 condemning the refusal of the US Warship USS Guardian to recognize Philippine authority and calling for the cessation of all port calls, warship docking and other military exercises by US Forces in the Philippines.
He also started an online petition challenging the Aquino government to ensure the full accountability and responsibility of the US government in the compensation and full ecological restoration of the damaged section in Tubbataha Reef.