Noting the “very good” weather at Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, the commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said preliminary work before the actual dismantling of the USS Guardian was under way. Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena said at least nine vessels, including the PCG search-and-rescue ship BRP Davao del Norte, were at the Tubbataha marine park as the salvage operation was about to start. The USS Guardian ran aground at the reef, a United Nations World Heritage Site, on Jan. 17 while on its way to Indonesia.

Esplanada, J., Tubeza, P. C., & Anda, R. D. (2013, February 25). Removal of US Navy ship gets under way. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.