Navy commissions 2 repaired vessels

By Elena L. Aben

Manila Bulletin, Sunday, April 17, 2011

As the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains wanting in the projection of naval presence, the Philippine Fleet based in Sangley Point, Cavite, last Friday marked its 73rd founding anniversary with the commissioning of two newly-repaired vessels.

Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay, Navy spokesman, said coinciding with the Philippine Fleet’s founding anniversary, the fleet also launched its new IT-based Command Center.

Tonsay said the two newly commissioned vessels, the BRP Emilio Liwanag (PG118) and the BRP Manobo (AT297), were repaired using deadlocked parts sourced from the systems and machines of vessels e docked beyond repair.

The PG118 is one of the seven Patrol Killer- Medium (PKM) gunboats acquired from South Korea in 1995, but had to undergo repairs when she was turned over to the Philippine Navy.

On the other hand, the BRP Manobo is a combat and logistics support vessel that is used to transport personnel and material cargo. Formerly categorized as a Boat Unit of the Philippine Navy, she was commissioned to increase the logistics support capability of the Fleet and whose crew composition will be manned by officers.

Tonsay said the commissioning ceremony, which included the reading of the commission order, breaking the commissioning pennant, and hoisting the national flag and Jack flag were presided by the Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC), Vice Admiral Alexander Pama.

Mb.com.ph

Officers and gentlemen

Photo By: Luzviminda J Lacbo

The Manila Times, Saturday, April 16, 2011

Philippine Navy personnel march during a commissioning ceremony in Sangley Point, Cavite province, on Friday as part of its 73rd anniversary celebration.

P15M worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Palawan

By Redempto Ada

Inquirer.net, Friday, April 15, 2011

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—An alleged smuggling syndicate operating in the southwestern tip of Palawan was busted and P15 million worth of assorted cigarettes from Malaysia were confiscated by intelligence operatives of the Western Command and Naval Forces West on Thursday.

Wescom spokesman Major Neil Estrella said Friday the bust was conducted following weeks of surveillance on the group believed actively involved in smuggling and using Mangsee Island in Balabac, an area nearest to the border of Malaysia, as a transit point of the contraband entering the country.

"This shipment route is very active. Almost every other week there are ... contraband that are able to get into mainland Palawan and into the rest of the country," Estrella said.

Based on intelligence reports from surveillance activities, Estrella said they applied for a search warrant and was granted by Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Dilig to investigate a network of warehouses in Balabac used by several Muslim traders based there.

"So far, we have searched seven warehouses and were able to retrieve at least P15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes. We're also looking into the possibility of drugs and firearms," Estrella said.

He said the operation was assisted by fast crafts of the US-assisted Small Boat Unit (SBU) of the PNP Maritime which was primarily intended for terrorist interdiction duties around Palawan's southern backdoor.

Smuggling charges were being prepared against several Muslim traders based in Balabac, according to Estrella.

Inquirer.net

Navy monitoring JI movement in Mindanao

By Roel Pareño

The Philippine Star, Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – The Philippine Navy intensified its monitoring activities, through its coast watch, to track down the movement of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) from slipping in and out of the country using the southern backdoor, an official said. 

Newly installed Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) Commodore Armando Guzman said they have focused their security operation in the border of the Philippines and Malaysia following the capture of most wanted JI bomber Umar Patek in Pakistan. 

Patek, who was last monitored to have been in the refuge of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu in the previous years, was reportedly captured last February. But his arrest was only made known by an intelligence official. 

Philippine security officials in Sulu believed that Patek, who was last monitored in 2009 in Sulu, may have been passing the southern backdoor. 

Patek and Dulmatin, another JI leader, who are both wanted in the deadly 2002 Bali bombing in Indonesia that killed 202 tourists, mostly Australians and Europeans, arrived in Central Mindanao sometime in 2003 but subsequently slipped toward Sulu with the Abu Sayyaf group. 

Dulmatin, who escaped Sulu ahead of Patek, was neutralized in a shootout with Indonesian police forces in the outskirts of Jakarta sometime on March 2010. 

Philippine military officials have confirmed that JI’s were using the southern backdoor after a team of the Abu Sayyaf, who were dispatched to survey an escape path toward Malaysia, were intercepted by the Marines in 2007 in an island off Tawi-Tawi. 

Guzman said the border in the southern backdoor is “so porous” and the coast watch have been intensified in monitoring the movement of the terrorists.

Philstar.com