US Navy exec axed for paid sex in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The commander of a United States Navy submarine was relieved from his post in August following his admission of hiring female prostitutes while the vessel was docked in the Philippines early last year, according to a report published in a Washington state newspaper on Friday.

Capt. Travis Zettel, commander of the USS Bremerton, was fired in August “following a loss of confidence in his ability to command the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, which is now tied up in Bremerton for decommissioning,” the Kitsap Sun reported.

The Bremerton, Washington-based daily said it based its report on documents received through a Freedom of Information Act request.


The report said the incident occurred during the submarine’s port call in Subic Bay on March 1. Zettel was reportedly seen with 10 “provocatively dressed females outside the front door of (his) hotel” at dinnertime of that day, according to a tipster interviewed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents over the Department of Defense Inspector General’s hotline.

The report added that Zettel told the tipster and another sailor that he had “requested/ordered 10 girls to arrive at the hotel.” Another sailor, according to the newspaper, told investigators he saw “Zettel walking around and talking to other sailors in his command with three local females holding onto his arm.”

In May, almost a month after the vessel arrived in Bremerton for decommissioning, the NCIS launched a criminal probe and confronted Zettel with the allegations, the Kitsap Sun report said.

Zettel, a Puyallup, Washington native commissioned in 1998 and first served on board the USS Salt Lake City before carrying out various assignments aboard other subs, “admitted culpability in the payment of female accompaniment,” it added.

After he was reprimanded and relieved of his command, Zettel was administratively reassigned to the staff of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor-based Submarine Squadron 19, the report said, quoting Navy officials then.

The other sailor, who was also interviewed by authorities but said he “did not participate in prostitution,” was not “pursued for disciplinary action,” the report said.

The STAR tried to reach the US embassy but it was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. called the United States a “responsible state” for the decision to relieve Zettel.

“He was fired by the US government. Now that’s a responsible state,” Locsin said in a post on Twitter. – With Pia Lee-Brago

source: philstar.com

US envoy says sorry again for Tubbataha fiasco but still no explanation

MANILA, Philippines -- US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. again conveyed his country’s apologies for the “unfortunate” grounding of a Navy minesweeper on Tubbatah Reef but still offered no explanation for why the USS Guardian was in the marine protected area.

“On behalf of the United States government, I wish to convey to the Philippine government and people my profound regret over the grounding of the USS Guardian on Tubbataha Reef,” Thomas said in a statement on Friday.

“This was an unfortunate accident, and I recognize the legitimate concerns over the damage caused to a unique and precious wonder of nature, internationally recognized for its beauty and biological diversity,” he said.

The Guardian was sailing from Subic Bay to Indonesia, where it was to participate in an exercise, when it ran into the reef, which has been declared a world heritage site, on January 17.

Authorities estimate that the incident has damaged at least 1,000 square meters of corals.

The US Navy earlier said it has decided to lift the vessel off the reef rather than tow or dismantle it to prevent more damage to the corals. Two cranes from Singapore are expected to arrive in the area by the end of the month.

The incident has caused widespread anger, especially after the office managing Tubbataha disclosed that the Guardian’s captain ignored warnings that the ship was heading into the protected area and the ship’s crew went into battle mode and prevented marine park rangers from approaching.

“As the investigation of this matter proceeds, we hope to continue our close coordination with the Philippine government to understand precisely what happened so we can ensure there will be no recurrence,” Thomas said, adding that the US would “work collaboratively with the Philippines to assess the damage and to take steps to address the environmental issues that have arisen from this incident.”

He thanked the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy “for their close cooperation with us.” (with Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com)

source: interaksyon.com

US Navy fined for 'illegal entry' in Tubbataha Reef

MANILA - Philippine authorities said Tuesday they have fined the US Navy for "unauthorized entry" after an American minesweeper went aground on a World Heritage-listed coral reef.

Manila announced the initial penalty amid growing anger in the Philippines over the January 17 stranding of the USS Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef, for which the US Navy has apologized.

A government-led board that manages the reef served formal notice Tuesday initially citing the US Navy for "unauthorized entry", Jose Lorenzo Tan, a member of the board, told AFP.

The site is protected by Philippine law, and is off-limits to navigation except for research or tourism approved by the marine park superintendent.

The law prescribes a maximum penalty of up to a year in prison plus a fine of up to 300,000 pesos (about $7,300) for unauthorized entry, but Tan said the penalty agreed by the board does not include the jail option.

"We initially decided to fine them," said Tan, also the country president of the World Wildlife Fund. He declined to disclose the amount.

A board statement issued by Tan said the US Navy would also be fined for "non-payment of conservation fee" and "obstruction of law enforcement officer".

The Tubbataha marine park superintendent, Angelique Songco, said Monday that park rangers had warned the USS Guardian by radio that it was nearing the reef, but the ship captain insisted they raise their complaint with the US embassy.

Fines for "damages to the reef" and "destroying resources" would be assessed after the vessel is retrieved, the board added.

The US embassy declined comment on the alleged violations.

Tubbataha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Sulu Sea about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the western island of Palawan.

The commander of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Scott Swift, apologized for the incident in a statement from Japan on Sunday.

The US Navy said the 68-meter (224-foot) vessel, which remained stranded above the reef Tuesday, had been en route to Indonesia after visiting a Philippine port north of Manila when the accident happened.

source: interaksyon.com