Tuesday, September 15, 2009

ASG Attack on Navy Engineers in Basilan Won't Derail School Building Project

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


An attack by the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group to a team of naval engineers in Basilan will not deter the Navy from completing the school building project in Sumisip town. This was the assurance given by Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy after receiving reports of the assault by the ASG.

Members of the 39th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team-9, who were providing security to the team of engineers exchanged fire with an undetermined number of ASG Friday morning, 11 September 2009. The engineers from the Naval Construction Brigade (Seabees) were reconstructing school buildings at Sitio Erely, Brgy Central, Sumisip town that were burned down by the ASG in March 2009.

The Marines who immediately returned fire forced the enemy to flee. Reinforcements from a nearby detachment arrived to conduct clearing operations. No casualties were reported on either side.

Vice Admiral Golez said the Navy’s Fleet-Marine team remains firm in its commitment of delivering services and humanitarian projects in the area despite threats posed by lawless groups. “The Navy recognizes the importance of this project to uplift the lives of residents and the vicious attack by the ASG will not stop us from pursuing development projects in Basilan.” “This attack only emboldens the Navy all the more to pursue development projects where they are needed the most,” added Vice Admiral Golez.

In winning the hearts and minds of the people, the AFP shifts its fight from the battlefield to Civil Military Operations (CMO) that will involve soldiers in medical, dental, disaster relief, government development projects, and other humanitarian missions.

Navy Confiscates 100 Drums of Smuggled Gasoline in Sulu

BY: LTCOL ADGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Following the government’s drive to decimate economic saboteurs, Philippine Navy vessel BRP Rafael Pargas (PG 379) confiscated 100 drums of smuggled gasoline in Parang, Sulu Thursday afternoon, 10 September 2009. The smuggled gasoline was on board M/L J-Sayang-1 when the Navy intercepted the motor launch in the vicinity southwest off Bunga Pt, Parang, Sulu.

Patrol Gunboat 379 and elements of Naval Special Operations Unit-6 launched the operation based on intelligence information from NISG- Western Mindanao. Board and search procedure conducted by the Navy yielded the drums of smuggled gasoline with an estimated market value of P607,500.00. The items, without proper documents are reportedly from Sandakan, Malaysia. The said motor launch is owned by a certain Jomalol Dahi while the ship’s master is identified as Master Patronbara Uri with 13 crew and one passenger. The Navy vessel escorted the motor launch to Jolo Pier for proper turn-over to the local office of the Bureau of Customs.

Navy units in the south have remained vigilant in their inter-agency conduct of maritime operations together with the Bureau of Customs to prevent pirates and lawless groups from exploiting our marine resources and using our maritime territory for their illegal activities. “A secure maritime environment is a big boost to the government’s economic development goals and peace efforts especially in Mindanao,” says Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy. “The Philippine Navy remains committed to its objectives through intensified operations of Fleet-Marine units all over the country against insurgent and separatist groups, smugglers and other lawless and criminal elements who retard the country’s economic gains.”
In July this year, intensified maritime and negation patrols resulted in the confiscation of smuggled goods worth P10.95 million in the Basilan-Sulu area. LCdr Ronnie C Pava is the skipper of PG 379.

NETC Relief Efforts re-Botolan Zambales Flooding

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

Friday, 11 September 2009

O/a 0913130H Sep 09, NETC dispatched the PN Assistance and Rescue Teams 3 and 4 to transport relief goods from Botolan PDCC Provincial Capitol to Brgy Carael, Botolan, Zambales. The teams are composed of 2 officers, 2 medical officers, 18 enlisted personnel with 1 M35 truck, 1 Almazora Bus and 2 rubber boats with OBM. Progress Report to follow.