US confirms commercial tanker brought clean fuel to Subic | ABS-CBN
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US confirms commercial tanker brought clean fuel to Subic
US confirms commercial tanker brought clean fuel to Subic
ABS-CBN News
Published Jan 11, 2024 08:52 AM PHT
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Updated Jan 11, 2024 11:00 PM PHT
(UPDATED) The US Embassy confirmed Thursday that a commercial tanker has brought clean fuel from a military facility in Pearl Harbor to a commercial storage facility at Subic Bay.
(UPDATED) The US Embassy confirmed Thursday that a commercial tanker has brought clean fuel from a military facility in Pearl Harbor to a commercial storage facility at Subic Bay.
"We can confirm that the Yosemite Trader, a commercial tanker, is currently in the vicinity of Subic Bay, Philippines in order to transfer clean fuel from the U.S. military facility at Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to a commercial storage facility at Subic Bay," US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said in a statement.
"We can confirm that the Yosemite Trader, a commercial tanker, is currently in the vicinity of Subic Bay, Philippines in order to transfer clean fuel from the U.S. military facility at Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to a commercial storage facility at Subic Bay," US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said in a statement.
The spokesperson added: "This is one of multiple shipments of safe, clean fuel from the Red Hill facility to other locations in the Pacific. All arrangements for the transfer and storage of this fuel were made through the proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities."
The spokesperson added: "This is one of multiple shipments of safe, clean fuel from the Red Hill facility to other locations in the Pacific. All arrangements for the transfer and storage of this fuel were made through the proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities."
In a separate statement, the Department of National Defense said the transport and storage of fuel from the United States to the Philippines is part of regular commercial transactions between the two countries.
In a separate statement, the Department of National Defense said the transport and storage of fuel from the United States to the Philippines is part of regular commercial transactions between the two countries.
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The DND made the clarification after Senator Imee Marcos questioned the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to Subic.
The DND made the clarification after Senator Imee Marcos questioned the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to Subic.
“The shipment of fuel from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA to a storage facility in the Subic Bay Freeport in the Philippines via the commercial tanker Yosemite Trader is part of regular commercial transactions between the US government and Philippine companies,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement on Thursday.
“The shipment of fuel from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA to a storage facility in the Subic Bay Freeport in the Philippines via the commercial tanker Yosemite Trader is part of regular commercial transactions between the US government and Philippine companies,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed that it had no involvement in the fuel shipment.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed that it had no involvement in the fuel shipment.
“The AFP has nothing to explain. The fuel shipment and the process that was followed by the US government, which are all administrative in nature, did not involve the participation of the armed forces,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“The AFP has nothing to explain. The fuel shipment and the process that was followed by the US government, which are all administrative in nature, did not involve the participation of the armed forces,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. also clarified that the AFP had no role in the fuel shipment.
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. also clarified that the AFP had no role in the fuel shipment.
“As far as the AFP is concerned noong nalaman po namin itong well this statement from Senator Imee we started investigating also, so we are ready to present the facts that we have unearthed about this importation of gasoline. Hindi po involved ang Armed Forces of the Philippines but we saw the documents that support the importation or the transfer of this gasoline into the country at nakita namin na hindi po involved and in fact, merong government agencies that are involved hindi na lang po namin sasabihin kung anong mga agencies na ito," he said.
“As far as the AFP is concerned noong nalaman po namin itong well this statement from Senator Imee we started investigating also, so we are ready to present the facts that we have unearthed about this importation of gasoline. Hindi po involved ang Armed Forces of the Philippines but we saw the documents that support the importation or the transfer of this gasoline into the country at nakita namin na hindi po involved and in fact, merong government agencies that are involved hindi na lang po namin sasabihin kung anong mga agencies na ito," he said.
Brawner said they are ready to explain their side on the matter.
Brawner said they are ready to explain their side on the matter.
“But then again pag tinawag po kami we are ready to explain our side na hindi po kasama ang AFP sa transaction na ito,” he added.
“But then again pag tinawag po kami we are ready to explain our side na hindi po kasama ang AFP sa transaction na ito,” he added.
Brawner added that only those direct defense items being entered in the Philippines by the US Armed forces are being coordinated to them.
Brawner added that only those direct defense items being entered in the Philippines by the US Armed forces are being coordinated to them.
“Yung mga direct defense items for instance that comes into the country are given notice to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in fact pagpasok po nitong equipment in fact they request permission for the bringing in of this,” he said.
“Yung mga direct defense items for instance that comes into the country are given notice to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in fact pagpasok po nitong equipment in fact they request permission for the bringing in of this,” he said.
Senator Marcos earlier demanded an explanation from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel of the U.S. Navy from Pearl Harbor to Subic.
Senator Marcos earlier demanded an explanation from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the shipment of 39 million gallons of fuel of the U.S. Navy from Pearl Harbor to Subic.
Data from several international shipping trackers show that the oil cargo was loaded at Pearl Harbor on the U.S.-registered tanker, Yosemite Trader, on December 20 and entered Philippine territory on Tuesday.
Data from several international shipping trackers show that the oil cargo was loaded at Pearl Harbor on the U.S.-registered tanker, Yosemite Trader, on December 20 and entered Philippine territory on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday morning, the Yosemite Trader remained in its position overnight some 50 kilometers west of Subic Bay, according to shipping tracker Marine Vessel Traffic.
As of Wednesday morning, the Yosemite Trader remained in its position overnight some 50 kilometers west of Subic Bay, according to shipping tracker Marine Vessel Traffic.
Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, lamented that the "inexplicable silence" of both the Philippine and U.S. governments before the voyage only raised suspicions about the pre-positioning of military supplies in the country amid predictions of an eventual war between China and the U.S. over Taiwan.
Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, lamented that the "inexplicable silence" of both the Philippine and U.S. governments before the voyage only raised suspicions about the pre-positioning of military supplies in the country amid predictions of an eventual war between China and the U.S. over Taiwan.
"The Mutual Defense Treaty is not a license to leave the Filipino people in the dark," the senator declared. "Subic is not an EDCA site, so where in Philippine territory will millions of gallons of oil be stored?"
"The Mutual Defense Treaty is not a license to leave the Filipino people in the dark," the senator declared. "Subic is not an EDCA site, so where in Philippine territory will millions of gallons of oil be stored?"
- with reports from Bianca Dava and Jose Carretero, ABS-CBN News
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