Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Statement of the Naval Public Affairs Office RE- Kidnapping Incident in Maluso, Basilan

Tuesday, 10 November 2009
BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Marines are hot on tracks of the group responsible in the recent kidnapping incident of two persons reportedly abducted early today, 10 November 2009 in Masluso, Basilan. At around 9AM, BGEN EUGENIO CLEMEN, Commanding General, 1st Marine Brigade based in Basilan dispatched a company of Force Reconnaisance Marines and another Special Operations Platoon of Marines from MBLT-1 to pursue the unidentified kidnappers. The Marines has so far recovered a fragmentation grenade believed to be of the kidnappers in an area where the abductors purportedly halted to rest in transit to the jungles. A company of Army troopers from 32IB also pursues the kidnappers according to BGEN CLEMEN. Meanwhile, a Division Reconnaisance Company from the Army’s 1st Division based in Zamboanga is now rushing to Basilan onboard a Navy boat to reinforce the Marines.

We hope to intercept or catch up with the kidnappers before they reach the mountains and immediately rescue the victims.

No one claims responsibility yet.

Farm-to-Market Road in Basilan Inaugurated; Local Execs Urge Public to Cooperate with the AFP

Tuesday, 03 November 2009
BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

The ground works for a major road in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan that connects three barangays which has seen recent encounters between the AFP and the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group was inaugurated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009.

BGEN EUGENIO N CLEMEN AFP, Commander, 1st Marine Brigade, Gov. Jum J. Akbar, and Mayor Ingatun Lukman G. Istaru of Tipo-Tipo led the inaugural ground-breaking ceremony. The nine (9)- kilometer farm-to-market road project in Tipo-Tipo will connect the provincial road to the Barangay roads of Sungkayot, Silangkum, and Matata-- sites of recent bloody armed encounters between the AFP and ASG. The project was a joint undertaking of the AFP and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P). The 1st Mobile Naval Construction Battalion of the Naval Construction Brigade leads the implementation of the project.

Governor Akbar of Basilan Tipo-Tipo Mayor Istaru expressed their full support in the project and conveyed their appreciation during the ground-breaking ceremony. The Governor urged the Basilenos to cooperate with the military in ensuring completion of the project and report all acts by threat groups that will derail its timely completion.

Mayor Istaru for his part attributed the roots of criminalities in his town to the absence of roads that will connect the people to schools, clinics, market, and other infrastructures necessary for development. The two officials jointly urged their constituents to support and protect all projects initiated by the AFP for the betterment of the province.

RADM ALEXANDER P PAMA AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao stressed in his remarks the economic and strategic value of the road rehabilitation which will redound to the well being and security of the community.



RADM ALEXANDER P PAMA AFP, Commander, NFWM giving his remarks on the groundbreaking ceremony.



Governor Jum J. Akbar listens to CNFWM briefing on the plan of rehabilitation.





RADM PAMA, Gov. Akbar, CPT CLAYPOOL and BGEN CLEMEN laying the time capsule marking the start of the project.






LT CADISAL of 1MNCBN explains the details of the road rehabilitation at the project site.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Marines Inaugurate Health Center in Lamitan, Basilan

Tuesday, 03 November 2009
BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

The Philippine Marines in Basilan headed by BGEN EUGENIO N CLEMEN AFP, Commander, 1st Marine Brigade inaugurated the newly-constructed Health Center in Barangay Bohe Bessey, Lamitan, Basilan on 27 October 2009. The Health Center completed in 24 October 2009 is one of the engineering projects of the AFP’s National Development Support Command (NDSC) in the province.



In his keynote address during the ceremony, BGEN CLEMEN stressed the importance of the project in the community. With the completion of the Health Center, the wellbeing of the poor barangay folks are assured of free health services, education and livelihood especially in that part of the war torn province of Basilan. He also urged the residents of the barangay to persuade their relatives and friends who are ASG members to avail the “Balik-Baril” Program of the government and return to the folds of the law.



Local officials of Lamitan especially Barangay Chair Herman A. Kasanarin of Bohe Bessey conveyed their gratitude and appreciation to the project. They noted as particularly noteworthy is how the Philippine Navy and the local leaders gathered their acts together in develoment endeavors in support to peace and development efforts in the province.



The project, which is in line with the Health Education and Livelihood Program (HELP) of the government, started in July this year was undertaken by the Philippine Navy Seabees headed by CDR MEDERICO R CELSO PN, Commanding Officer, 1st Mobile Naval Construction Battalion (1MNBN).







BGEN EUGENIO N CLEMEN AFP, Commander, 1st Marine Brigade giving his remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the Health Center in Brgy Bohe Bessey, Lamitan, Basilan.





Hon. Herman A. Kasanarin, Chairman of Brgy Bohe Bessey receiving the symbolic key of the Health Center from BGEN CLEMEN during the turn-over ceremony. Joining BGEN CLEMEN is LTCOL BENJAM J ESPINOSA PN(M)(GSC), Commanding Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team-9.




Residents of Barangay Bohe Bessey availing of the free basic health services during the inauguration of the health center.