News Story: US Navy Cancels Port Calls Amid Philippine Anger Over Killing

Former US Navy base at Subic Bay (File Photo)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The US Navy has canceled visits to the Philippine port of Subic amid public anger over accusations that a US Marine killed a Filipino on the city’s outskirts, officials said Monday.

Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said the visits of three US ships to Subic this month had been canceled, while the head of the Subic freeport said nine such visits scheduled for this year had been called off.

“The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) was informed through normal diplomatic channels of the cancelation of the visits to Subic of three ships for operational reasons,” he said.

Jose told reporters he did not believe the cancelations were linked to anger stirred by the investigation of a US Marine for the killing of a Filipina in Olongapo City last month.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Robert Garcia said nine US ships due to dock at Subic this year had canceled their visits.

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