MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Rodolfo Biazon Wednesday questioned the US government’s deployment of an aircraft carrier to help in the search for survivors of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars and the retrieval of bodies trapped in the vessel.

“An aircraft carrier is not designed for salvage. The USS Ronald Reagan is a strategic and combat vessel whose main assets are aircraft, F-18s. What will the F-18s do for the recovery [efforts]?” Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces, said in a press conference.

He said the US government should have sent smaller ships with a crane instead.

Biazon also said that while the deployment of the aircraft carrier showed the US government’s readiness to lend a helping hand, “I don’t think it can do anything to really assist the Philippine government in having to do what has to be done.”

The Ronald Reagan strike group consists of the carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate. The group left about 100 American sailors behind in Hong Kong when it had to depart port on Sunday, a day early, because of safety concerns related to Typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen).

The aircraft carrier has about 6,000 sailors aboard.

“The carrier group will support immediate rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts being carried out by Philippine authorities in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

Happy to do it

US President George W. Bush announced the deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan after a meeting on Tuesday with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House.

“We’re happy to do it,” Bush said. “We want to help our friends in a time of need.”

Nuclear-powered

“[Its] arrival in the … Philippines exemplifies the longstanding ties between the United States and the Philippines and the US commitment to assisting the Philippines, in keeping with our mutual commitments under the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty,” the embassy said.

But Biazon also questioned whether the USS Ronald Reagan should be allowed to enter Philippine seas if it had nuclear weapons on board.

The Philippine Constitution bars the entry of nuclear weapons into the country, he pointed out.

Anthony Golez, Ms Arroyo’s deputy spokesperson, said the deployment of the aircraft carrier would not violate the Constitution, which states that “the Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”

“Ever mindful of the prohibition, the President made it to a point that the carrier group will not be bringing nuclear weapons in consonance with the policy of freedom from nuclear weapons,” Golez said in Malacañang.

He said the USS Ronald Reagan was “only nuclear-powered.”

“We would like to stress the humanitarian focus of this aid accepted by the President, which is of primary national interest given the current situation,” Golez said.

The senator has earlier called for a Senate investigation of the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars on Saturday off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province.

He has directed the Philippine Navy’s flag officer in command to check if the ship’s heavy cargo was latched and whether its log book was preserved, and to recover its captain, first officer and chief mate.

Largest, newest

The US Embassy described the USS Ronald Reagan as “the largest and newest of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.”

“Its on-board aircraft are able to assist with transportation of cargo, aerial damage assessment, and support search-and-rescue operations,” the embassy said, adding:

“Under the direction of Philippine disaster relief authorities, USS Ronald Reagan personnel may provide assistance including aircraft support, production and delivery of potable water, medical assistance activities, and machinery repair.”

The USS Ronald Reagan’s carrier group includes the cruiser USS Chancellorsville, the destroyers USS Decatur, USS Gridley, and USS Howard, the frigate USS Thach, and other supporting vessels, the embassy said.

“The USNS Stockham and US Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft continue to provide support, and US Navy divers are assisting Philippine personnel with rescue and recovery efforts on the capsized MV Princess of the Stars,” it said.

Had she stayed home …

Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez, chair of the House committee on trade, said the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan would not have been possible without Ms Arroyo’s presence in Washington.

Had she stayed home, “the biggest aircraft carrier built would not have been ordered to go to Romblon,” Alvarez said.

“But because she was able to personally appeal for help to President Bush, a ship whose air assets are more than (those in) the ASEAN nations combined will now be helping in relief and rescue work,” he said.

Alvarez said the US government was sending over a carrier group bigger than what it had sent to Burma (Myanmar) and China, “whose cyclone and earthquake fatalities, respectively, dwarf the loss of lives caused by Typhoon Frank.”

Between Arroyo hug & GI Joes

“On this score alone, not mentioning the other aid and investment packages [Ms Arroyo] will be bringing home, the US trip is now worth it,” he said.

The lawmaker also said it was “perhaps providential” that Ms Arroyo was in the United States when the typhoon hit.

He said Ms Arroyo’s personal request for help “elicited a response more magnanimous than one solicited long distance.”

“What would we have preferred? A presidential shoulder to cry on, or a thousand helping hands from a US carrier group who can help victims?” Alvarez said.

“I think the people on the ground, much [as] they want to group-hug with the President, would prefer the GI Joes,” he said. With reports from Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Michael Lim Ubac and Norman Bordadora