Updates On the Reported Apprehension of a Marine Personnel by Village Guards as of 1100H

By: LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Friday, 18 September 2009

We are happy that the good Prof. Lumbera accepts our apology. We have already said that he was not subject of surveillance. The student is on an information/verification task per a given academic situation. Recognizing the apprehension of our countryman, the Navy has stopped the conduct of the practical exercises and, on its own initiative, initiated an inquiry on the incident. Further, VADM Ferdinand Golez, the Flag Officer In Command of the Philippine Navy has ordered the reevaluation of the training program particularly on the conduct of practical exercises like information and reports verification. We are committed into striking a good balance between realism in training and privacy concerns of persons and properties that may be affected in similar academic exercises. (End of Statement)