Firm allegedly dumped toxic waste

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MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Toxic waste from U.S. Navy ships was illegally dumped in Subic Bay by a contractor, Philippine investigators say.

Investigators testified at a Senate hearing Wednesday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Sen. Loren Lagarda said Glenn Defense Marine Philippines Inc. broke the laws of the country.

Mateo Mayuga, a retired vice admiral in the Philippine navy and Glenn Defense's chief executive officer, has denied reports of toxic waste dumping. He said all waste was first properly treated and then dumped outside the country's territorial waters.

But U.S. officials say the ships involved had no waste-treatment equipment and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said samples taken from the bay have shown levels of particulates beyond legal limits.

"Fishes and other water organisms will die due to the highly toxic wastes thrown in our seas," said Angel Bagalayos, head of the SBMA Ecology Center.