Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Statement of Naval Public Affairs Office re-Firefight in Mohammad Ajul, Basilan

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

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Navy Seals and Marines in pursuit operations vs bandit Abu Sayyaf Kidnap Group and the remnants of Basilan Jailbreak clash with lawless elements group.

Firefight erupted between Navy troops and undetermined number of armed men 7:25pm, 29 December 2009 at Brgy Candiis, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.

VADM FERDINAND S GOLEZ, Navy Chief condoles with the families of a Lieutenant Junior Grade and a Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) of the Navy Special Operations Unit 6 based in Naval Forces Western Mindanao were Killed-In-Action (KIA). A Seaman First Class (SN1) was wounded but now in stable condition in a military hospital.

Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, the commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command directed the extrication of casualties from the armed engagement site while the operation continues vs the group headed by Abu Sayyaf subleader Muntong Pula.

“We will be relentless in the pursuit operations even during the holiday. We have to get these convicts and terrorists and bring them to justice. There’s no reason for a revelry with them lurking in the hinterlands of Basilan.”

Lieutenant Colonel Edgard A Arevalo PN(M), Navy Spokesman.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Statement of the Naval Public Affairs Office re Sinking of MV Catalyn B and MV Baleno 9 as of 271430H Dec 09

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

Sunday,27 December 2009

After four days of aerial search by our Navy Islanders and two days of sea surface search for missing passengers by four of our ships, we are yet to see survivors from Catalyn B. Accounts from survivors that the ship capsized in less than two minutes reinforces our apprehensions that those twenty one (21) missing could have gone down with the ship.

We are hoping otherwise in case of the reported 22 still missing among the 88 reported personnel of MB Baleno 9 (per Coast Guard PIO: 70 passengers; 18 crew; 62 survivors; 4 casualty; 22 missing). After navy aerial search at 7:55 AM onwards today and accounts of survivors that more could have perished, the Navy search and rescue teams aboard PS 32 to be joined by PG 394 race against time to save any of or all the missing passengers. We are soliciting prayers that may the rescuers find the survivors at the nick of time. (End)

Statement of Naval Public Affairs Office re-sinking incident of MV Baleno 9

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

Sunday, 27 December 2009

In regard to the reported capsizing of MV Baleno 9, a RORO Type vessel plying Calapan Oriental Mindoro-Batangas City route, Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez AFP orders the forthwith dispatch of Disaster Response and Rescue Teams of the Fleet-Marine Ready Force to conduct search and rescue. BRP Iloilo (PS32) with medical team departed Cavite at 04:13 A.M. for Verde Island where the incident happened. Navy Islander with tail number PNI 312 takes off for aerial search 7 A.M. Another aircraft, PNH 412 on-call. Meanwhile, a smaller and more agile Navy vessel PG 394 directed to depart Subic as soon as possible to proceed vicinity Verde Island. “In the face of all these untoward incidents anew and amidst our limitations, our countrymen can depend on your Navy for succor,” says Vice Admiral Golez. (End)

Navy Responded to a Call after Boats Collide

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

Friday,25 December 2009

Navy alerts anew its search and rescue response teams to take action to a disaster call from a collision between M/B Catalyn B and F/V Anatalia at vicinity 4 kilometer northwest of Limbones Island, Cavite yesterday. Forty-six others have been rescued, twenty-four are still reportedly missing, while there are three who were recovered.

Naval Disaster Response Task Unit-National Capital Region(NDRTU-NCR) has been organized to formally undertake the search and rescue mission headed by COMMO JOSE MIGUEL S RODRIGUEZ AFP. Navy’s BRP Sulpicio Fernandez (PG853) with full complement of 3 officers and 15 crew and 2 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat from the Naval Special Operations Group had been in the search area for two days now to assist the Philippine Coast Guard. Two Naval vessels, BRP Dagupan City(LC551) and BRP Iloilo(PS 32), also proceeded in the area. Likewise, Navy Aircrafts PNI 312 and PNH 421 took off from Naval Base Heracleo Alano and help out in the search and rescue. A medical team from Cavite Naval Hospital (CNH) was also augmented to render assistance to those who are in need of medical attention and care.

A series of tragedies have struck the Philippines over recent months and this is another painful incident that befell our countrymen, especially this Christmas. But as the nation is being confronted by these challenges, your Philippine Navy units remain organized, equipped and are suited for deployment at a moment’s notice. Your Navy works and performs even non-combat roles hand-in-hand with other government and non-government agencies to help our countrymen in need.