Tolentino allays nuke power fears

Security experts have in the past raised the possibility of terrorists making ‘dirty bombs’ or explosives laden with radioactive materials whose toxicity could be spread by the wind.

Senator Francis Tolentino on Friday dismissed concerns over the possible establishment of a nuclear power plant in the country in a bid to bring down the cost of power for Filipinos.

Tolentino shot down claims that terrorist groups may try to get nuclear waste should the government pursue its plan to include it in its current energy mix.

‘Worse, radioactive waste and raw material for nuclear energy in the Philippines could be a target for local and foreign terror groups seeking to get their hands on radiological materials.’

“It should have happened in other places,” he said, citing that even Ukraine and Russia that both have nuclear power plants are avoiding areas where the plants are located.

Security experts have in the past raised the possibility of terrorists making “dirty bombs” or explosives laden with radioactive materials whose toxicity could be spread by the wind.

“There are threats sometimes but we never heard any news that a plant has been bombed although on initial days Russians have already taken over these areas. So, there is risk everywhere,” he added.

Tolentino made the remarks after Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed concern over the new initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to tap nuclear power.

Hontiveros lamented that even nuclear power advocates in the country could not fully answer the question of how and where the government will safely store radioactive waste which can remain dangerous for thousands of years.

“There is no assurance that the Philippines will avoid any nuclear accidents if it does pursue nuclear energy, given that such accidents have happened even in countries like Japan and the United States,” she said.

“Worse, radioactive waste and raw material for nuclear energy in the Philippines could be a target for local and foreign terror groups seeking to get their hands on radiological materials,” she added.

Earlier, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute disclosed that the country is currently looking into possible nuclear deals with South Korea, France, and China.