AFP, PNP beef up security measures for Independence Day celeb

By Jell E. Guzman
PIA Press Release, Saturday, June 11, 2011

QUEZON CITY, June 11 (PIA) -– The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is beefing up security measures in preparation for the celebration of the 113th Philippine Independence on Sunday, June 12, 2011.

AFP chief General Eduardo Oban said the whole Armed Forces rejoice with the nation in commemorating 113 years of Philippine independence.

PNP chief Raul M. Bacalzo also directed all police units to intensify police visibility, checkpoint operations, and mobile and foot patrol in accordance with the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS).

Around 500 personnel from the AFP’s National Capital Region Command (AFP NCRCOM) will be deployed to complement personnel from the PNP and Presidential Security Group (PSG) to ensure security in Rizal Park, Manila; Bonifacio National Monument, Caloocan; Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan; and Mauseleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, Manila North Cemetery.

Aside from the 500 AFP personnel that will be deployed, the AFP has also put on standby some 300 follow on forces, three Civil Disturbance Management (CMD) units, and two communications teams.

On Sunday, June 12, parading elements composed of one battalion each from the Philippine Army, AFP General Headquarters, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and Composite Enlisted Women; 2 battalions from the Peacekeeping Contingent and 121 personnel from the AFP Band will join the Kalayaan (freedom) Grand Parade.

Rear Admiral Orwen J. Cortez will lead the troop of more than 100 military personnel who will be carrying the Philippine Flag and the AFP Colors.

The AFP Philippine Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Team will have an exhibition to be followed by a silent drill to be performed by PMA Class of 2013 at the Quirino Grandstand.

Meanwhile, the AFP and the PNP will also hold a free public concert dubbed as “Musikalayaan” or music for peace at the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park, Manila on Saturday, June 11.

“In the spirit of the Bayanihan, these activities exemplify our expression of great pride of our beloved country, and to always bear in mind the continuous pursuance of protecting the Filipino nation’s freedom and sovereignty,” said Oban. (AFP/PIA-NCR/RJB/JEG)

pia.gov.ph

Cargo vessel rescues 24 fishermen off Pangasinan

By VR/Sunnex
Sun Star Manila, Saturday, June 11, 2011

A CARGO vessel rescued 24 fishermen whose ship sank off Pangasinan at the height of storm Dodong, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Friday.

With the assistance of a Philippine Navy islander plane, the MV Sea Palace was able to locate and eventually rescue the 24 fishermen, OCD Ilocos region director Andrew Alex Uy said.

The group still proceeded to fish onboard the F/B 3MS Wolf at the Scarborough Shoal off Zambales.

However, the vessel lost radio contact on their way to back to Bolinao, Pangasinan on Thursday afternoon, prompting the search.

Earlier, it was reported that the fishermen numbered 26 and that they were at at the Spratlys Island or in the South China Sea off Palawan.

At around 12 noon Friday, a Navy aircraft spotted the fishermen 38 nautical miles northwest of Bolinao, floating in the water with their life jackets, Uy said.

"They were floating. Its fortunate that all of them have life jackets," he said.

He said the aircraft then spotted the transiting cargo vessel. “The Navy established communication , it coordinated with the MV Sea Palace to pick up the victim and ferry them…All of them are alive and were rescued,” he said.

The MV Sea Palace is expected to arrive Bolinao 4:30 p.m Friday.

sunstar.com.ph

No Dampened Spirit

Photo by Marianne Bermudez

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Friday, June 10, 2011

NO DAMPENED SPIRIT. Even in parade rehearsals, it rains, but this did not stop members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from attending the practice as part of preparations for the celebration of Independence Day on Sunday. Officials say it’s going to be an austere event.

inquirer.net

NDRRMC: 26 fishermen missing off Pangasinan

By GMA News, Friday, June 10, 2011

(Updated 9:25 a.m.) At least 26 fishermen aboard a fishing vessel were reported missing after venturing into the Spratlys area but failing to return late Thursday afternoon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday.

The NDRRMC said the fishing boat “3MS WOF" may have encountered stormy seas.

In its 6 a.m. Friday report, the NDRRMC said the fishermen "were believed to be heading back to Bolinao in Pangasinan."

In an interview on GMA News TV's News To Go Friday morning, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos confirmed the 26 fishermen were declared missing late Thursday after they failed to come back to shore at the expected time.

"Dapat makakabalik sila sa Bolinao mga 6:30 p.m. Nawalan sila ng contact mga 3:30 p.m. Pabalik na sana sila... siguro nasalubong ang bagyo...," Ramos said.

According to Ramos, two planes and two ships from the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy have been deployed for the search-and-rescue operation.

"Maaga pa lang, nag-deploy na ang Coast Guard at Navy ng dalawang eroplano at dalawang barko para sa paghahanap ng mga mangingisda," he added.

On Thursday afternoon, Pangasinan was placed under Storm Signal No. 1 due to tropical cyclone Dodong. Also placed under the same storm signal were Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

The storm signal in all these areas was lifted Friday morning, as Dodong, which intensified into a storm, moved towards China.

According to the NDRRMC, the Office of the Civil Defense in the Ilocos Region has already coordinated with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard for possible search and rescue operations.

However, bad weather conditions made a search-and-rescue operation impossible as of late Thursday.

"Once the sea calms down, (a) rescue boat of (the Philippine Coast Guard) and the Philippine Navy will proceed to the area immediately. A Navy boat and a PCG helicopter will be deployed to conduct search and rescue [operations on Friday]," the NDRRMC said.

The Coast Guard detachment in Sual, Pangasinan is made ready for search-and-rescue operations. A helicopter was set to conduct aerial surveys.

For its part, the Philippine Navy alerted boats at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Batanes area to monitor any boat sending distress signals.

A Navy patrol boat and plane were on standby at the SBMA.

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development had made ready P25.41 million worth of relief supplies in areas along Dodong's path.

Casualties

As of 6 a.m. Friday, the NDRRMC said the death toll from Dodong remained at two, including 10-year-old Mark Daniel Ken Mateo of Batangas City; and Alejandra Mortel, 56, of San Agustin town in the island province of Romblon.

The NDRRMC said Dodong also affected 167 families or 499 people from Batangas City.

In Metro Manila, a family of five was evacuated from Laura Drive in Bagumbayan in Taguig City due to floods.

The Taguig City disaster risk reduction and management council also requested a water pump to flush out the water in the area.

Meanwhile, weather conditions improved in Metro Manila on Friday, allowing the military to conduct a dress rehearsal at Luneta Park in Manila for Sunday’s celebration of the 113th Independence Day.

The soldiers conducted their rehearsal as early as before 7 a.m., radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported.

GMA news