Monday, May 17, 2010

Navy elite force to hunt down Abu Sayyaf men

Manila Bulletin, Sunday, March 21, 2010

By: Elena Aben

Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez has ordered the deployment of the Navy’s elite force, patrol vessels, and gun boats to help get the remaining members of the al Qaeda-inked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in 60 days, in line with the order of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman, said send-off ceremony will be held 7:30 a.m. Monday, March 22, at the Navy headquarters in Manila.

Arevalo said newly-repaired surface assets that will be deployed to operational areas in in the Visayas and Mindanao are BRP Rajah Humabon (PF 11), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS 38), BRP Simeon Castro (PG 374), BRP Apollo Tiano (PG 851), and BRP Gen. Emilio Aguinlado (PG 140).

A company from the Philippine Marine Corps’ (PMC) elite force will also be deployed to Basilan to augment government forces present in the province. The Philippine Army also sent its specially-trained troops to the area.

The Navy FOIC will preside over the ceremony to be attended by Senior Fleet-Marine unit commanders.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Marine Commandant, and Rear Admiral Geronimo Defensor, Commander, Philippine Fleet, will assist Golez during the inspection of troops and their equipment prior to the send off.

“Binibining Pilipinas 2010 winners will likewise grace the occasion to help boost the morale of the sailors and marines which will result in their improved efficiency in the performance of their duties and responsibilities to the country and the Filipino people,” said Arevalo.

Considering the dangers of the task, the Navy will remain committed in the performance of their sworn duties to protect the people and preserve the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,” he added.

Navy to deploy gunboats to Mindanao

The Philippine Star, Sunday, March 21, 2010

By: Jaime Laude



MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy is deploying a fleet of gunboats to strategic areas in Mindanao and the Visayas to hasten the defeat of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said they will deploy newly-repaired gunboats BRP Rajah Humabon (PF 11), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS 38), BRP Simeon Castro (PG 374), BRP Apollo Tiano (PG 851), and BRP Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (PG 140).

An elite Marine company will also be dispatched to Basilan to support the ongoing operations against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups in the island province.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez will preside over the send off ceremony tomorrow at the Navy’s headquarters.

To boost the morale of the Marines, the Navy invited the winners of the Binibining Pilipinas 2010 beauty pageant to be present at the send off.

“Considering the dangers of the task, the Navy will remain committed to the performance of their sworn duties to protect the people and preserve the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,” Arevalo said.

After assuming command of the military’s 125,000-strong force, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Delfin Bangit vowed to crush the Abu Sayyaf within 60 days.

Bangit has directed the three major services – the Army, the Air Force and the Navy – to pool their resources for the operation.

Dagdag-puwersa vs Sayyaf

Police E-Files, Sunday, March 21, 2010

By: Mark Obleadia

Magpapadala ng karagdagang mga puwersa ang Philippine Navy upang tumulong sa isinasagawang pagtugis sa mga bandidong Abu Sayyaf Group(ASG) at kampanya laban sa insureksyon sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Ayon kay Philippine Navy Spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, itatalaga ang PN sa Visyas at Mindanao ang BRP Rajah humabon (PF11); BRP Apolinario mabini (PS 36); BRP Gen. Mariano Alvarez(PS 38); BRP Simeon Castro(PG 851) at BRP Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo(PG 40). Ilang company ng Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) elite force na ipadadala sa Basilan.
Pangungunahan naman ni Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, Flog Officer in Command, Philippine Navy ang sent off na dadaluhan ng mga Senior Fleet-Marine Unit Commanders, major General Juancho M Sabban, Commandant, PMC at Rear Admiral Geronimo Defensor, Commander, Philippine Fleet na magassist kay Vice Admiral Golez sa pagsasagawa ng inspection ng troops at kanilang mga kagamitan.
Sinabihan ni Arevalo na ang pagtatalaga ng mga personnel at asset ay isa naman hakbang ng Navy bilang bahagi ng kampanya sa pagpapatupadng kaayusan seguridad at mapalakas ang kampanya laban sa mga lawless element sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Sundalo ‘ipapadala’ ng Bb. Pilipinas winners sa Sulu

Sunday Tonite, Sunday, March 21, 2010

By: JB Salarzon

Ngayong araw, buong puwersa ng Binibining Pili­pinas 2010 winners ang makakasama ng matataas na opisyal ng Philippine Navy at Marines upang bigyan ng maikling seremonya ang mga sundalong ipapadala sa Sulu para tumulong sa paglipol ng mga natitira pang Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Pangungunahan ni Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez at Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban ang mga binibini para sa pagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga sun­dalong sasabak sa labanan.
Ayon kay Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, tagapagsa­lita ng Navy/Marines, ang mga sundalo ay kabahagi ng kanilang elite force at mananatili ng 60-araw o dalawang buwan sa Sulu.
Partikular na guguwardiyahan ng mga sundalo ang karagatang nakapa­libot sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Mindanao kung saan mayroong presensiya ng Abu Sayyaf habang tinutugis ng mga kapwa nilang sundalo ang mga ito sa kalupaan.
Kasama sa mga idedep­loy ang isang kumpanya ng Marines na ang destinasyon ay sa Basilan.
Sa kautusan ni Armed Forces chief Gen. Delfin Bangit, nag-deploy na ng isang batalyon ng elite forces si Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu sa Sulu para tugisin at lipulin ang mga bandidong Abu Sayyaf.