Thai Navy Ships on Goodwill Visit to the Philippines

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

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Two ships of the Royal Thai Navy - HTMS TAKSIN and HTMS CHAOPRAYA are set to arrive in the Philippines today, 24 March 2010 for a five-day goodwill visit. The delegation headed by Squadron Commander Rear Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, Royal Thai Cadet Training Unit’s Commander is composed of 70 officers, 239 enlisted men, 20 non-military rank personnel, and 236 naval cadets. The ships are commanded by Capt Samarn Khunthaphong and Capt Skye Bekanan. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS36) will meet and escort the visiting ships in the vicinity of Corregidor Island, a time-honored tradition among navies.

Shortly after their arrival, the head of the delegation will pay a courtesy call to Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy at the Navy Headquarters in Roxas Blvd. The head of the Thai delegation will also lead the wreathlaying ceremony at the Luneta Park. Officers and personnel of the two navies will also see action during sports activities at the Jurado Hall, Naval Station Jose Francisco, Taguig City.

Slated in the next few days is a shipboard tour and familiarization of students from the Fleet Training Center, Cavite City. The Philippine Navy sees this as an opportunity for its students to optimize learning aboard state-of-the-art vessels now that PN is about to jumpstart its own modernization. The goodwill visit is also a good avenue to discuss with our Thai counterparts the possibilities for closer linkages such as mutual visits, exchange of subject matter experts and research analysts, and other similar activities that would contribute to a mutually beneficial relationship between the Philippine and Thai armed forces in the area of defense/military research.

The goodwill visit also gives opportunity for the Philippine Navy to strengthen ties with its Thai counterparts as both countries are working together in the common pursuit of maintaining peace and stability in the ASEAN region. It’s also a good venue to reiterate their commitment in combating terrorism and transnational crimes at sea, concerns which require a cooperative response among nations.

PRESS ADVISORY: Goodwill Visit of Two (2) Royal Thai Navy Ships to the Philippines

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

WHO: Royal Thai Navy

WHAT: Goodwill Visit of Two (2) Royal Thai Navy Ships to the Philippines

WHEN: 24-28 March 2010

WHERE: Manila, Philippines

DETAILS:

Two ships from the Royal Thai Navy- HTMS TAKSIN and HTMS CHAOPHRAYA will arrive in Manila for a goodwill visit on 24-28 March 2010. The ships are expected to dock at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila at 12:00 today, 24 March 2010. The delegation is headed by Squadron Commander Rear Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, Royal Thai Cadet Training Unit’s Commander. The ships are commanded by Capt Samarn Khunthaphong and Capt Skye Bekanan with a complement of 70 officers, 239 enlisted men, 20 non-military rank personnel, and 236 naval cadets.

The head of the delegation will pay a courtesy call to Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy at the Navy Headquarters today at 1 p.m. The delegation will proceed to the Luneta Park for the wreathlaying ceremony. The two navies will also see action in a number of sports activities at the Jurado Hall, Naval Station Jose Francisco, Taguig City.

Friends from the media are invited to cover the events. You may coordinate with
LTJG MARINETH R DOMINGO PN at mobile telephone number (0917) 817-1434 for additional information and other concerns.

PHOTO RELEASE

By: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)

Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Members of the elite Force Reconnaissance Company of the Philippine Marine Corps rushed to their respective vehicle during the send off ceremony Monday, 22 March 2010 at the Headquarters Philippine Navy. They will be deployed to Basilan to support law-enforcement actions against lawless elements operating in the said province. The send-off of the Philippine Navy vessels and marine personnel is in line with the guidance of AFP Chief of Staff General Delfin N Bangit to get the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group within 60 days.

Six patrol vessels and gunboats of the Philippine Navy that will be deployed to operational areas specifically in Visayas and Mindanao are moored in Commodore Divino Pier at the Navy Headquarters in Roxas Boulevard, Manila. The send-off of the vessels and marine personnel was held 7:30 a.m. Monday, 22 March 2010 in line with the guidance of AFP Chief of Staff General Delfin N Bangit to get the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group within 60 days.

Officers and men of BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36) board their ship after the send-off ceremony Monday, 22 March 2010 at the Headquarters Philippine Navy. PS 36 is one of the six Navy ships that will be deployed to operational areas specifically in Visayas and Mindanao. The send-off of the vessels and marine personnel is in line with the guidance of AFP Chief of Staff General Delfin N Bangit to get the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group within 60 days.

Mastermind in February Massacre in Basilan Killed in Clash with Marines

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

Monday, 22 March 2010

The mastermind of the gruesome attack in Maluso, Basilan that left 11 persons dead and 10 others wounded last 27 February 2010 has been reportedly killed in a clash with the Marines in Sumisip town the other day.

ASG sub-leader Abugao Abayali was confirmed dead after desperately leading an early morning raid in a Marine detachment in Sumisip, Basilan. Bayali is the one responsible in the kidnapping of Leah Patris on 03 February 2009; the ambush of P/INSP REYMAN JANNATUL and six PNP members on 09 August 2009; and ambuscade/laying of improvised explosive device (IEDs) while elements of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion are on a logistics run killing 2 soldiers.

Last Saturday around 4:50 in the morning, the group of Bayali harassed/attacked elements of CAA/CVO personnel along with two (2) intelligence personnel while occupying blocking positions at vicinity Sitio Tilling, Barangay Guiong, Sumisip, Basilan. The engaged troops immediately requested for fire support from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 and six (6) rounds of 81mm mortar were delivered within the assaulting enemy position. At 5:30 a.m., an elite platoon from MBLT-7 and 61st Force Recon Company rushed to reinforce the besieged troops. The reinforcement was itself attacked with heavy volume of fire.

After two hours of firefight, the enemy withdrew dragging with them an undetermined number of casualties. Two CAAs were killed in action while another CAA and a Marine were wounded. An enemy was also killed during the encounter. One of those wounded, identified as Abugao Abayali later died.

The Navy’s Fleet-Marine Team sustains its determined efforts to flush out the ASG and other lawless groups operating in southern Philippines. The success of its operations against these groups will usher in peace and development in the region.

Kidnapped Victims rescued by Marine Intel Operatives

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

Monday, 21 March 2010

Kidnappped victim Examinda C Lindio who was abducted last March 13, 2010 while in the vicinity of public market of Sitio Oval, Barangay Matibay, Lamitan City was rescued by Joint Intel Operatives Elements of 1st Marine Brigade, Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 and MARCC-M. The continuous surveillance and casing on the suspected kidnapper yielded a positive result which led to recovery of the kidnapped victim.

On March 18 at 2:00PM in the afternoon, the combined recovery team of Marines stormed the residence of a certain Arvin Guiroy Arciaga, 30 and a resident of Sitio Maloong, San Jose, Lamitan City, Basilan Province the prime suspect in the abduction. After the team of Marines scoured the house of the suspect. They found that the missing person Examinda Lindio is in the basement of the said house. But based on the initial investigation conducted, said kidnapping incident was allegedly a staged kidnapping put up by the rescued and the suspected kidnappers who are reportedly having an illicit affair and further plan to elope upon payment of ransom. The 2 are now in the custody of 1MBde in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City.