Friday, October 23, 2009

Navy Confiscates Illegal Logs in Cagayan and Palawan, Apprehend Poachers

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

Friday, 23 October 2009

The Philippine Navy confiscated illegal logs and apprehended poachers in Cagayan and Palawan in three separate ocassions last week.

Members of the Naval Special Operations Unit-2 intercepted a motor banca carrying 46 pieces of lumber (red lawaan) in the vicinity of San Vicente Island, Sta Ana, Cagayan, Friday evening, 16 October 2009. The undocumented forest products measuring 680 board feet have an estimated market value of P20,000.00. Aso discovered aboard the motor banca was a chainsaw unit worth P30,000.00. The Navy team was conducting seaborne patrol in the area when it spotted the watercraft.

Meanwhile, Navy personnel conducting maritime patrol in Canabongan Island, Balabac, Palawan also intercepted a watercraft transporting around 100 pieces of illegally cut lumber, locally known as Ipil, Thursday afternoon, 15 October 2009. The forest products measuring 1,000 board feet and bound for Malaysia have an estimated market value of P52,184.40

In another operation in Palawan, personnel from the Tubbataha Reef Detachment (composed of personnel from the Navy, Coast Guard, LGU-Cagayancillo, and Tubattaha Management Office) apprehended five individuals who were caught transporting 10 sharks, considered as endangered species, aboard a watercraft Thursday morning, 15 October 2009. The authorities who chased F/BCA Alma Mae after it gnored warning shots discovered the creatures when it conducted board and search procedure. Also discovered were various fishing gears and paraphernalia.

Apprehending authorities were forced to throw away the dead sharks midway off Tubbataha and Puerto Princesa City while on its way to escort the five crew members of F/BCA Alma Mae to Puerto Princesa City for proper turn-over to local authorities.

The Navy remains committed to the protection and preservation of our marine resources especially in the vulnerable fringes of our territorial waters that are seldom patrolled. As in the many circumstances in the past, the Navy endeavors and perpetuates the protection of our economy and patrimony especially in the vast and porous borders of our maritime nation.

Marines to Render Hero’s Welcome to Officer Killed in Sulu Bomb Explosion

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

Friday, 23 October 2009

The Marine officer who was hit by a landmine last Wednesday while leading his team during patrol in Patikul, Sulu will be accorded hero’s welcome today, 23 October 2009 at the Marine Headquarters in Taguig City.

MAJ GEN JUANCHO A SABBAN AFP, Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps will lead officers and enlisted personnel in paying their last respects to a fallen comrade, 2LT DULAN F CORDERO PN(M). The late Marine officer will be awarded the Posthomous Wounded Medal.

A landmine hit 2LT CORDERO who was conducting patrol with his team from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 (MBLT-5) along the vicinities of Barangay Upper Tugas in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday morning, 21 October 2009. The device was planted along the cut off water pipe that exploded when MBLT-5 passed near the vicinity to check the water pipe. Another Marine was also wounded during the incident.

2LT CORDERO graduated from the PMA in 2006 and was assigned to Sulu in March 2007 after completing his training at the Marine Base Ternate. The former corps commander of his ROTC unit in Tacloban City, 2LT CORDERO, 27 years old, excelled in judo during his cadet days and was a company commander in the academy.

“His leadership trait always stood out. Once he set a goal, he was determined to achieve it”, said 2LT Rafael Naranjo, a former company-mate at the PMA and also a Marine officer now assigned in Sulu. He adds that being competitive and a fighter was deeply ingrained in Cordero’s character.

According to a former roommate, Cordero who is the eldest in a brood of three, was aware of the dangers facing the job did but this did not discourage him from joining the Marines. “He wanted to be a warrior”, said Ens Nelson Alquiza who is now a Navy pilot.
Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez condoles with the family of 2LT CORDERO. Despite suffering casualties during the recent attacks in Sulu, the Navy leadership will not be detered from pursuing lasting peace and progress in Mindanao through its security efforts and various humanitarian projects undertaken by the soldiers. According to Vice Admiral Golez, putting an end to the Navy’s operations in the island-province would lend futile the sacrifice of the soldiers in the south especially those who have died in battle.