Navy stops search for missing Chinese diver in Palawan

by RSJ, GMA News, Friday, May 06, 2011

After six days of fruitless searching, the Philippine Navy ended Friday its efforts to look for a Chinese diver who went missing off Tubbataha Reef in Palawan.

The Navy had dispached a patrol gunboat and an Islander plane to look for the diver, identified only as Chang, radio dzBB's Palawan affiliate reported Friday.

But the Navy issued a maritime advisory asking fishermen and passing ships in the area to notify it if they see tracees of the missing diver.

Chang had been missing for at least six days, even as Navy efforts to locate him with its Patrol Gunboat 385 proved futile, the report said.

An initial investigation showed Chang went missing off the Tubbataha Reef area after their boat encountered big waves and sank last weekend.

The Naval Forces West said Chang disappeared after waves buffeted the boat carrying eight other passengers.

The boatman and seven other passengers had been rescued.

GMA News

Philippine Navy launches Admiral’s Cup to mark 113th anniversary

Gold Star Daily, Friday, May 06, 2011

THE Philippine Navy (PN) commenced its Admiral's Cup Tuesday at the Navy Headquarters on Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, in commemoration of the 113th Navy Anniversary this May 20.

A yearly event to highlight sportsmanship and camaraderie among the Fleet-Marine Team, the Admiral's Cup signals a two week-long event composed of several aqua sports and other traditional sports.

Participated in by all units from the Navy all over the Philippines, this sporting event hopes to strengthen both mind, body, and spirit among all Navymen.

Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Admiral Alexander Pama said, "This year's Admiral's Cup must ensure the value of enhancing brotherhood between the Navy's Fleet-Marine Team to further its partnership."

He added that sporting events such as this should form part of the Navy's year round sports activities to promote the Navyman's physical fitness program.

Among the breaking sports are the Tug-of-War and the Rubber Boat Race at the nearby Manila Yacht Club Basin.

A parade of participating contingents opened the ceremony followed by the traditional Oath of Sportsmanship lead by Col. Ernesto Ravina Jr, the Naval Special Services Officer. pna

Gold Star Daily

2nd year Sta. Cruz Islands fiesta eyed

By Bong Garcia

Sun Star Zambaonga, Thursday, May 05, 2011

PLANS are now underway for the possible conduct of “Fiesta na Isla de Sta. Cruz,” a summer outing at the Sta. Cruz Islands, Zamboanga City.

The Sta. Cruz Islands, known for its “pink sand”, take 10 to 15 minutes boat ride from Zamboanga City.

Mayor Celso Lobregat and Naval Forces Western Mindanao (MFWM) Commodore Armando Guzman on Thursday broached the idea of holding the second summer excursion at the Sta. Cruz Island, which was first conducted on April 20, 2008 during the time of former NFWM chief Admiral Emilio Marayag.

The 2008 “Fiesta na Isla de Sta. Cruz” capped live music, beach games and free tours around the islands. It was organized by the Tourism Association of Zamboanga, DOT, and the City Government of Zamboanga.

Lobregat and Guzman are set to meet with the Tourism Association of Zamboanga and the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office to iron plans for the “Fiesta na Isla de Sta. Cruz.”

Lobregat and Guzman also discussed strengthening coordination between the City Government and the Navy Forces on activities that involve the Peace and Order Council, the Crisis Management Committee and other special bodies where the Navy plays an important role.

Guzman took over Commodore Orwen Cortez, who has been promoted to Vice-Commander of the Philippine Navy.

Guzman is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1980 and was commander of the Naval Forces Central.

Sun Star Zamboanga

'No specific threat in Phl'

By Delon Porcalla

The Philippine Star, Wednesday, May 4,, 2011

Philippine Navy commandos patrol the waters behind the US embassy in Manila yesterday. The government has tightened security in airports and places hosting embassies for possible retaliatory terror attacks in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden.

Photo by: JONJON VICENCIO

Not on terrorists’ priority

Defense Undersecretary and spokesman Eduardo Batac said terrorists were certainly planning retaliatory attacks but the Philippines might be far from their minds.

“We know the terrorists will always come up with retaliatory action but as to targeting the Philippines, I think we would be very far in the priority list,” Batac said in a press briefing yesterday.

“However, we again caution our people that we have to remain vigilant and alert. It’s the only way that we can combat terrorism,” he said.

“Without the cooperation of our people, it’s going to be very hard for authorities to detect any movement,” he added.

“If there are movements (by terrorists) we can detect that. They have to familiarize themselves with the terrain, especially in urban areas. There are measures by which we can detect the entry of these foreign groups. But we can’t be complacent,” Batac said.

“We caution our citizenry that this is not the time to put our guard down but a time for more vigilance and alertness in seeing to it that the specter of terrorism does not creep back into our national territory,” he added.

AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu said supporters of bin Laden would likely prioritize the US and European countries.

“They always seek something that will create a worldwide effect psychologically. If they attack the US or big companies in Europe, it will have a huge psychological effect,” Mapagu said.

But he stressed the Philippines should not be complacent.

“Even if we say that we are low in their priorities, the mere fact that we are one of the possible targets, then we should remain vigilant,” Mapagu said.

Navy chief Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, for his part, said he has ordered his men to step up intelligence gathering.

“(The terrorists) may seek to retaliate but our troops are aware of that. Because of this, we enhanced our readiness to avoid untoward incidents,” he said.

Pama said they do not see any need to send more troops to areas believed to be strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf.

“More or less we know the critical areas and the people to be monitored,” he said.

In Zamboanga City, security officials said vigilance among civilians is key to thwarting terror attacks.

“The vigilance of the civilians will be a major factor in blocking any sabotage attempts,” according to Police Regional Office 9 director Chief Superintendent Elpidio de Asis.

But he said the Zamboanga peninsula is generally safe because terror groups operate mainly in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi areas.

De Asis said the Abu Sayyaf lost its direct financial support from al-Qaeda after the death of Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, brother-in-law of bin Laden, during a raid in 2007 in Madagascar. Khalifa was in Zamboanga City in the 1990s.

“So the concentration now of the Abu Sayyaf is mainly in BaSulTa (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) areas but our counterparts have been running after the group,” De Asis said.

“The civilians know already how to take actions, in fact the bulk of our successful operations were the contributions of the civilians,” said Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command or Westmincom.

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