Marines in Japan to skip Philippine drills

The Associated Press, Sunday, April 03, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — About 3,000 Marines will not join annual war exercises in the Philippines starting this week because they are helping with relief work in quake- and tsunami-devastated Japan, officials said Sunday.

Philippine military spokesman Maj. Enrico Ileto said civic missions such as school construction will proceed as planned during the April 5-15 exercises, but some field exercises would be scaled back because of the U.S. relief activities in northeastern Japan.

Army Maj. Tage Rainsford said some Navy ships have also been deployed to Japan and would not join the Philippine exercises, which include joint training for possible natural disasters.

“They ended up in a real-world situation,” Rainsford told The Associated Press.

About 6,000 Americans, along with 2,000 Filipino troops, were originally slated to join the exercises, called Balikatan or “shoulder-to-shoulder.” The longtime military allies signed a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and later forged an agreement allowing U.S. ship visits and American troops to join war maneuvers in the country.

About 500 American troops have been separately providing training, weapons and intelligence since 2002 to Filipino troops battling al-Qaida-linked militants in the country’s south but they are barred from combat by the Philippine Constitution.

NavyTimes

'Balikatan 2011' is all about regional cooperation, friendship, Navy chief says

By Joel C. Atencio

Zambotimes, Saturday, April 2, 2011

Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama said Friday the "Balikatan 2011" exercise between the Philippines and United States military forces is all "about regional cooperation and friendship among allies."

Set on April 5-15, it is the 27th bilateral exercise conducted annually to serve as a venue for joint and combined training between the Philippines and U.S. military forces.

"On a much larger scale, let me emphasize that this annual exercise endeavors to enhance regional cooperation, promote friendship and strengthen mutual relationships between the participating countries, as well as sustain professional skills of participants from both forces at every level," Pama said.

The Navy FOIC was the guest of honor during Friday afternoon's send-off ceremonies of the "Philippines-United States Balikatan 2011" at the Navy headquarters along Roxas Blvd. in Manila.

Pama said this is the huge value-added imperative that "Balikatan exercises have provided both our countries through the years of its existence."

The Navy chief specifically acknowledged the various programmed activities designed to develop the country's maritime security capabilities by conducting series of symposia, practicals and other at-sea events that focus on anti-insurgency and terrorism activities.

"It is my great honor to join all of you here today, as we send-off all members of the PN contingent to the second phase of the Balikatan 2011 exercises," he said.

The Navy will send the destroyer escort Rajah Humabon (PF-11), the flagship of the PN which will ferry two company-sized personnel composed of sailors and marines, a team of navy sea, air and land (SEAL) team and a group of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) as participants of the activity.

Two teams of Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) equipped with an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), M-35 and Humvee trucks and other equipment that will be used for the Balikatan exercise were displayed during the send-off ceremony.

Also present during the event was Commodore Joseph Rostum Peña, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy commander of the Philippine Fleet and the PN exercise director of the Balikatan Exercise 2011.

Pama further said this year's Balikatan Joint Exercise aims to improve US-Phl combined planning, combat readiness, and interoperability while enhancing security relations between the Philippines and the U.S.

"Balikatan" is a Filipino word which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" that characterizes the philosophy and intent of the exercise.

For this year, the military exercises will focus on revitalizing the interoperability of the Philippines and U.S. militaries in post-conflict response through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.

Activities will include Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP), Medical Action Program (MEDCAP), Dental Civic Action Program, Veterinary Civic Action Program (VETCAP), and Community Relations (COMREL) activities which will be conducted in Central Luzon.

Five barangays in Central Luzon will benefit from the ENCAP activities. The combined engineering forces will construct two-room school buildings in each barangay while MEDCAP, VETCAP, and COMREL activities will also be conducted in these areas.

The Balikatan Exercise 2011 also aims to formulate and assess concepts for the Unilateral Defense Plan (UDP) through a Staff Exercise and Command Post Exercise (STAFFEX/CPX) at the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Further, it will also evaluate concepts of transition from UDP to Bilateral Defense Plan (BDP), and to a post-conflict response in a STAFFEX/CPX that will be held at the Northern Luzon Command in Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, Tarlac.

A Field Training Exercise (FTX), a core component of Balikatan 2011, will also take place to help stimulate the capabilities of the major services of the AFP.

The FTX, including ground forces, sailors, marines, and airmen from different AFP units and U.S. forces, will hold simultaneous field training exercises in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; Basa Air Base, Pampanga; Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga; Crow Valley Range, Tarlac; Naval Station L. Gantionqui, Zambales; Sangley Point, Cavite City; Marine Base Ternate, Cavite; and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Zambotimes.com

'Balikatan 2011' is all about regional cooperation, friendship, Navy chief says

By Joel C. Atencio

Balita.ph, Friday, April 01,2011

MANILA, April 1 – Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama said Friday the "Balikatan 2011" exercise between the Philippines and United States military forces is all "about regional cooperation and friendship among allies."

Set on April 5-15, it is the 27th bilateral exercise conducted annually to serve as a venue for joint and combined training between the Philippines and U.S. military forces.

“On a much larger scale, let me emphasize that this annual exercise endeavors to enhance regional cooperation, promote friendship and strengthen mutual relationships between the participating countries, as well as sustain professional skills of participants from both forces at every level,” Pama said.

The Navy FOIC was the guest of honor during Friday afternoon’s send-off ceremonies of the “Philippines-United States Balikatan 2011” at the Navy headquarters along Roxas Blvd. in Manila.

Pama said this is the huge value-added imperative that "Balikatan exercises have provided both our countries through the years of its existence."

The Navy chief specifically acknowledged the various programmed activities designed to develop the country’s maritime security capabilities by conducting series of symposia, practicals and other at-sea events that focus on anti-insurgency and terrorism activities.

“It is my great honor to join all of you here today, as we send-off all members of the PN contingent to the second phase of the Balikatan 2011 exercises," he said.

The Navy will send the destroyer escort Rajah Humabon (PF-11), the flagship of the PN which will ferry two company-sized personnel composed of sailors and marines, a team of navy sea, air and land (SEAL) team and a group of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) as participants of the activity.

Two teams of Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) equipped with an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), M-35 and Humvee trucks and other equipment that will be used for the Balikatan exercise were displayed during the send-off ceremony.

Also present during the event was Commodore Joseph Rostum Peña, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy commander of the Philippine Fleet and the PN exercise director of the Balikatan Exercise 2011.

Pama further said this year’s Balikatan Joint Exercise aims to improve US-Phl combined planning, combat readiness, and interoperability while enhancing security relations between the Philippines and the U.S.

“Balikatan” is a Filipino word which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" that characterizes the philosophy and intent of the exercise.

For this year, the military exercises will focus on revitalizing the interoperability of the Philippines and U.S. militaries in post-conflict response through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.

Activities will include Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP), Medical Action Program (MEDCAP), Dental Civic Action Program, Veterinary Civic Action Program (VETCAP), and Community Relations (COMREL) activities which will be conducted in Central Luzon.

Five barangays in Central Luzon will benefit from the ENCAP activities. The combined engineering forces will construct two-room school buildings in each barangay while MEDCAP, VETCAP, and COMREL activities will also be conducted in these areas.

The Balikatan Exercise 2011 also aims to formulate and assess concepts for the Unilateral Defense Plan (UDP) through a Staff Exercise and Command Post Exercise (STAFFEX/CPX) at the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Further, it will also evaluate concepts of transition from UDP to Bilateral Defense Plan (BDP), and to a post-conflict response in a STAFFEX/CPX that will be held at the Northern Luzon Command in Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, Tarlac.

A Field Training Exercise (FTX), a core component of Balikatan 2011, will also take place to help stimulate the capabilities of the major services of the AFP.

The FTX, including ground forces, sailors, marines, and airmen from different AFP units and U.S. forces, will hold simultaneous field training exercises in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; Basa Air Base, Pampanga; Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga; Crow Valley Range, Tarlac; Naval Station L. Gantionqui, Zambales; Sangley Point, Cavite City; Marine Base Ternate, Cavite; and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. (PNA) scs/JCA

balita.ph

RP cracks down on Chinese poachers

The Daily Tribune, Friday, April 1, 2011

Government security forces have vowed to seek long jail terms for six Chinese caught poaching fish and sea turtles, as part of a crackdown against foreigners stealing marine wildlife.

The head of a multi-agency taskforce against illegal entrants, Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, yesterday said he plans to take a hardline stance against all foreign poachers, unlike previous officials who allowed them to be released.

“We will be pursuing the harshest penalty as demanded by law. We will be fighting for the conviction of these apprehended poachers,” Sabban

told Agence France Presse.

In previous cases of Chinese fishermen caught illegally in Philippine waters, the Chinese Embassy often successfully lobbied for the release of its nationals, much to the anger of local environmental groups.

But Sabban, who took over in August last year as head of the task force that includes the police and military, said he would push hard for the latest batch of nabbed Chinese to be jailed.

“I don’t know what happened in previous cases but I would like to assure everybody that we will take action differently,” he stressed.

The Chinese fishermen were arrested off the western island of Palawan last March 24 with their catch of fish and sea turtles, regional police head Chief Supt. Antonio Hicban said.

They face charges of illegal entry, illegal fishing and catching a protected species — the sea turtles — which could get them 12 to 20 years in jail, Hicban and Sabban said.

The declaration of a stronger stance against the Chinese suspects came a day after China executed three Filipino drug mules, despite appeals for mercy from senior Philippine officials.

Anger toward China has risen in the Philippines after the execution of the three Filipino drug couriers.

Sabban said the crackdown was not related to the execution of the three but compared the two cases, recalling that China had insisted the Philippines respect its legal system under which the Filipinos were put to death.

“The Chinese ambassador said to us, we should understand the rule of law in their country. The same thing should be applied here. We are just following the law, the same way the Chinese ambassador told us,” he said.

Chinese Embassy spokesman Sun Yi said consular officials would be sent to Palawan to see what action to take regarding the arrested fishermen.

Tribuneonline.org