Navy commissions 2 repaired vessels

By Elena B Aben

Manila Bulletin, Monday, May 16, 2011

MANILA, Philippines -- 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

USS Carl Vinson Aircraft

Day Life, Monday, May 16, 2011

A Philippine Navy crew member uses a pair of binoculars to spot the U.S. Navy's USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier which is anchored off the Manila bay, west of Manila May 15, 2011. The USS Carl Vinson is the ship where Osama bin Laden was given burial ritual after he was killed in a raid by U.S. Navy Seals in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The Carl Vinson is escorted by the USS Bunker Hill, the USS Shiloh guided missile cruisers and the destroyer USS Gridley which arrived in Manila on Sunday for a four-day routine port call.

Philippine Navy Acquires USCGC Hamilton

Philippine Embassy-USA, Friday, May 13, 2011

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. (8th from the right) and Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. (8th from the left) together with Philippine Navy officers and crew aboard the newly-acquired vessel.

13 May 2011, Washington DC. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. formally accepted the transfer today of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Hamilton Cutter during formal ceremonies held in Alameda, California. Ambassador Cuisia was accompanied at the ceremony by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor Jr., Captain Antonio A. Habulan of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, and Colonel Edwin Erni of the Philippine National Police Office in San Francisco. Vice Admiral Manson Brown, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West, signed the transfer documents for the U.S. government.

Shows the ship flying the Philippine flag.

In his remarks during the transfer ceremony, Ambassador Cuisia noted that the success of the project is an indication of the robust Philippine-U.S. partnership and serves as an expression of the U.S.’ commitment to help the Philippines protect its maritime domain.

The cutter will officially become the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, with Captain Alberto Cruz at the helm. He is part of a group of eight officers and thirteen enlisted personnel from the Philippine Navy, who are currently undergoing training with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard is an important component in Philippine-U.S. defense and security cooperation. The Philippine Navy has acquired other vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard in the past, including two 82-foot patrol boats, the USCG Point Evans and USCG Point Doran, whose transfers were effected in December 1999 and March 2001, respectively. Moreover, the U.S. international cadet program benefits students from the Philippines who train and interact with other students at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy located in New London, Connecticut.

Philippineembassy-usa.org

Al-Qaida suspects hiding in Philippines

UPI Asia, Friday, May 13, 2011

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, May 13 (UPI) -- Military officials say at least five suspected terrorists who had links to al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden are in hiding in the southern Philippines.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday the group's "primary interest here is to train local contacts on bomb-making. Now there are reports they are highly mobile and trying to blend in the communities."

Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, commander of the Philippine Navy, said U.S.-trained engineer Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, a Malaysian who reportedly trains the Abu Sayyaf guerillas in bomb-making techniques, is at the top of the list.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines intensified its intelligence operation to locate these terrorists," Pama said.

Pama said another foreign terrorist hiding in Mindanao is known only as Mauwiyah.

Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen, vice commandant of the Philippine Marines, said Mauwiyah was last reported to be in Sulu.

"We gathered that he managed to blend in the community and the last report we got is that this terrorist is engaged in seaweed farming in Sulu," Clemen said. "Our intelligence operatives are tracking his exact whereabouts but [the] latest report indicated he is still in Sulu."

Bin Laden was killed May 2 by a U.S. force in Pakistan. His death could trigger renewed activity by the terrorists hiding in the Philippines, Pama said.

Cabangbang said the military has renewed its efforts to capture the suspected terrorists. He identified the others as Indonesians known only as Saad and Qayyim and Amin Baco, a Malaysian.

upiasia.com