Thursday, February 4, 2010

Inter-agency Cooperation Thwarts Illegal Maritime Activities in Bicol

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


Thursday, 04 February 2010

Inter-agency cooperation among the Philippine Navy and local authorities in Bicol resulted to the recovery of 400 flitches of illegally cut logs and capture of a vessel engaged in illegal fishing. Diesel Fast Craft 321 (DF 321) with a SEAL team and intelligence operatives on board recovered the logs 7 kilometers off Dinahican, Quezon while being towed by two separate vessels early morning of Wednesday, 03 February 2010.

COMMO JOEL BABAS, Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) Commander reports to VICE ADMIRAL FERDINAND GOLEZ, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy that said forest products amounting to 1.5 million pesos were intercepted by DF 321 during a maritime operation. The Navy has turned over the recovered items- approximately worth P1.5 million pesos- to the DENR. Meanwhile PG 378 apprehended a vessel- locally known as Superlights- engaged in illegal fishing at 8 kilometers southwest off Cabarian Pt, Libon, Albay.

COMMO BABAS added that the operations are a component of the Navy’s relentless effort to protect the country’s natural resources and biodiversity both inland and at seas. Incessant illegal logging activities has been blamed as the primary cause of landslides and flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives and properties especially in Quezon in the year 2004.

Thru cooperative efforts among concerned agencies enforcing maritime law, the NAVFORSOL in July last year recovered approximately 600 pieces of illegally cut logs in Infanta, Quezon after DF 321 chased unidentified motor bancas towing volumes of round logs in the area.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Sulu Unites for Road Project

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


Thursday, 28 January 2010

In a show of unity for peace and progress, residents of Barangays Batu-bato, Malimbaya and Sionogan in Indanan, Sulu pushed for the resumption of works to finish the 8km Malimbaya-Sionogan Road on 22 January 2010. The road project, which is part of the Sulu Circumferential Road Network, is being funded by the United States Government through the civic action program of the US Armed Forces who are helping the Philippine Marines to combat terrorism in Southern Philippines. Rogue members of the MNLF and Abu-Sayaff terrorists have attempted to sabotage the project several times in the last four months.

According to LtCol Robert Velasco, Commander of the 6th Marine Battalion in Indanan area who spearheaded the resumption of the roadwork, terrorists have sabotaged three bridges along the road stretch and continued to harass civilian workers and the Marines who are securing the project. Velasco said that in the past two weeks alone, there were three skirmishes between the Marines and the Abu-Sayaff. This angered the local populace who directly benefit from the project. Salip Tito Jainal, one of the barangay captains in the area, said that peace and development cannot be held back by the terrorists. “Gusto lang naman namin ng maayos na kalsada at kung kailangan naming maninidigan dito ay gagawin namin”, Jainal said.

The road project has been stalled for the past four months because of the threats in the area. However, Brigadier General Tino Pereyra of the 3rd Marine Brigade initiated a multi-sectoral effort to push for the continuation of the project. Pereyra said that it was the Marines, LGU, civic organizations, and the local people themselves who united so that the project will continue. “This road is for the people and by the people. The Marines is just an instrument so that peace and development loving people can come together to work for development projects like this one” added Pereyra who is well known is Sulu for his down-to-earth ways of dealing with the locals.

Last January 15, a similar 7km road project was opened in Indanan. A school project and a barangay hall were also handed over to the local officials by Brigadier General Rustico Guerrero, Commander of the anti-terror Task Force Comet, and Colonel Bill Coultrup of the US forces. Two US soldiers and a Philippine Marine died while constructing this school building when terrorists attacked their convoy with IED in November last year. Guerrero said that they will continue to push for development projects and they will not let violence hamper peace and progress. The RP-US partnership and peace endeavor in Sulu is fast becoming a model of countries combining their efforts in addressing the root causes of terrorism.

The Malimbaya-Sionogan road project is expected to be completed in March. Velasco said that they will do it fast because the people in Sulu have long deserved this good road. “We will show the people in these far flung areas that the government is here and that other peace-loving people will help them. Several other low cost development projects that directly impact the lives of poor people are lined up for implementation in Sulu Province through the help of the US government,” Velasco said.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Marines Clash with Armed Men in Sulu

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

Friday, 22 January 2010

Marines clashed with undetermined number of ASG/rouge MNLF in Sulu last Wednesday, 20 January 2010. No reported casualty on government side while undetermined on the enemy side.

Around 4 p.m., elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 5 and 6 who were conducting area security operations along Baitamal Bridge Indanan, Sulu engaged undetermined number of ASG/rouge MNLF. The perpetrators positioned themselves more or less 200 meters south of the position of the operating government forces. At their perceived opportune time, the enemy attacked. Firefight ensued for about five minutes. The enemy withdrew towards the vicinity of the MNLF camp in Sitio Marang, Brgy Buasa.

“The Navy will not be cowed but will be more vigilant by this attack that is meant to harass our operating units,” said Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Philippine Navy Recruitment and Testing Center


The PN Mobile Recruitment Team (PN-MRT) will conduct provincial recruitment for Naval Officer Candidate Course (NOCC) and Basic Seaman Course (BSC) in your nearest place as follows:

NFWM, Zamboanga City 13-20 Feb 2010
NFC, Cebu City 06-13 Mar 2010
NFC, Iloilo 20-27 Mar 2010
NFNL, La Union 03-10 Apr 2010
NFSL, Legaspi City 17-24 Apr 2010
NFC, Tacloban City 05-12 Jun 2010
NFEM, Davao City 19-26 Jun 2010
NFWM, Puerto Princesa City 24-31 Jul 10


Go Navy!!! Fleet-Marine Team

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Statement from Marine LTC Edgard Arevalo, Navy Spokesperson re Recovered Body of DP3 Panangui PN

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


Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Today the entire Team Navy grieves with the bereaved family of Data Processing 3rd Class Pearlie T Panangui 834002 PN.

After nearly 7 days (since 12 January 2010), her lifeless body was recovered under the rubbles of the UN Headquarters Building at Port Au Prince in Haiti. Per situation report #18, LTC LOPE C DAGOY PA, RP Contingent Commander, reported that the lifeless body of the Filipina peacekeeper was retrieved on 181620H January 2010 (Tuesday, 0520H RP time).

“She led a life of service that spanned beyond our shores,” said Navy Flag Officer In Command Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez of Panangui. She has faithfully served the Navy for 8 years and has proven herself as an asset to the organization before she volunteered to the UN mission. She did the Navy and the AFP proud by showing to the world what Filipino soldiery is all about.

A hero’s welcome awaits her as all her entitlements and benefits are being prepared by the Navy.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Navy Honors Contingent to Malaysian Exhibit

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


The Philippine Navy accords honors today, 22 December 2009 to the contingent that participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibit (LIMA) in Malaysia.

Naval Task Group LIMA 09 comprised of officers, crew, and some 289 Sailors and Marines arrived in the Philippines yesterday after a month-long mission in Malaysia and Singapore. Two Navy vessels- BRP Quezon (PS 70), a patrol vessel and BRP Dagupan City (LC 551), a logistics ship, participated in the LIMA Exhibit 2009 held from 01-05 December 2009 that showcased the latest in aerospace technology from private industries and manufacturers.

The Exhibit also became a venue among participating navies to affirm their commitment to peace and security. According to Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, the Exhibit was an opportunity for the Philippine Navy to strengthen its cooperation with foreign counterparts, especially among Asian navies.

The Navy also took advantage of the activity to conduct an overseas training cruise for students from the Naval Education and Training Command and the Fleet Training Center. Students and crew of both ships also availed of training facilities at the Royal Malaysian Naval Base in Lumut and observed how the Maritime Information Fusion Center operates during the port visit to Singapore. The trip which covered a distance of 3,854 nautical miles included passing through the equator which is considered a highlight in one’s naval career. Both ships departed Palawan for Langkawi on 23 November 2009.

The LIMA mission headed by Capt Albert Mogol PN (GSC), Commander, Task Group LIMA is among the various international engagements of the Philippine Navy in strengthening its ties among its foreign counterparts. Every year, the Philippine Navy participates in a number of exercises that tests its interoperability in fighting terrorism and security threats in the region.

FOIC PN Award from Indonesia

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





Naval Diplomacy. The grateful Republic of Indonesia through President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyuno confers to Vice Admiral Golez the Bintang Jalasena Utama on 16 November 2009. In the investiture ceremony held at the Headquarters, Indonesian National Forces, the President cited the Philippine Navy Flag Officer In Command’s “invaluable services rendered in the improvement and strengthening of a good joint cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in general, and National Military Navy of both countries in particular” that earned for him the Indonesian Navy Star, First Class. General Djoko Santoso, Commnader-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Forces presented the award in an elaborate ceremony on behalf of the President.