Philippines joins SE Asia, US in naval drills

By Xinhua

The Brunei Times, Wednesday, June 15, 2011

THE Philippine Navy has joined navy units of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the US for a 10-day annual exercise starting yesterday to enhance interoperability and share best practices.

According to Navy Captain Sebastian Pan, the exercise director, the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) will take place in Malacca Strait, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea until June 24.Pan said the navy units of the five Southeast Asian countries together with the US Navy will participate in a scenario-driven fleet training exercise against terrorism, transnational crimes and other maritime threats."This activity will involve surface, air, and special operations units in the conduct of surveillance, tracking, and boarding of the COI from the different participating navies within their respective maritime territories," he said. Exercise SEACAT is an annual combined exercise conducted at vital sea lanes in Southeast Asia to ensure control of sea lanes from terrorists, poachers, and transnational lawless elements.Venues have been determined in advance during coordinated planning sessions and are finalised following confirmation from all participating navies. This exercise aims to promote regional coordination, information sharing and interoperability in a multilateral environment.

bruneitimes.com.bn

Philippine Navy dismantles Chinese marker in Spratly reef

By Windsor Genova

All Headline News, June 15, 2011

The Philippine Navy said Tuesday it has dismantled a suspected Chinese marker found by local fishermen at a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The marker taken down at the Boxall Reef was a flat bar measuring 10 feet long and 4 inches wide, according to Naval Forces West commander Commodore Edgardo Tamayo.

The reef is 105 nautical miles from Palawan Island and falls within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. It is 20 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal, which is occupied by the Philippine Navy.

Tamayo said the marker was the same steel post found and dismantled earlier by the navy at Amy Douglas Bank.

On May 24, steel posts, a buoy and other building materials were laid out by Chinese vessels in the said reef. Manila subsequently filed a diplomatic protest with China, claiming the foreign activities violated the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The declaration, to which China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are parties, urges claimants to the islands to refrain from constructing military facilities and conducting war games in the disputed archipelago to avoid tension. The declaration, however, is non-binding.

allheadlines.com

Philippines removes markers from disputed waters

By Al

AFP News, Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Philippines said Wednesday its navy had removed "foreign" markers installed on three reefs and banks in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

The removal of the wooden posts took place in May, just before the government formally protested over alleged incursions by the Chinese navy in Filipino territorial waters, Philippine navy spokesman Omar Tonsay said.

"They were foreign markers because they were not installed by our military or our government. So we dismantled them because they are part of Philippine territory," Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Tonsay told AFP.

The Philippine government has recently accused China of putting posts and a buoy in Filipino-claimed waters, but Tonsay said the navy had not been able to determine who placed the wooden posts that it removed in May.

"They did not have a 'Made in China' label or anything," Tonsay said, adding the posts had only numbers on them.

The markers were on Boxall Reef in the Spratly Islands, and in the nearby Amy Douglas Bank and Reed Bank, all of which are in waters of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines and China.

Aside from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping territorial claims to strategically vital and reputedly resource-rich areas of the South China Sea.

Tensions over the long-running dispute have escalated in recent months amid assertions by the Philippines and Vietnam that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the areas.

The Philippines this month accused China of undermining peace and stability in Asia by allegedly sending naval vessels near Reed Bank to intimidate rival claimants, and of installing posts and a buoy in nearby areas.

The Philippines also protested over incidents in February to May, accusing the Chinese navy of opening fire on Filipino fishermen and intimidating a Philippine oil exploration ship.

Raising tensions further, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Tuesday that his country needed help from longtime ally the United States in its dispute with China.

Chinese embassy spokesmen in Manila did not answer telephone calls on Wednesday about the foreign markers.

A spokesman at the Philippines' foreign department declined to comment on the naval action.

news.yahoo.com

Sasakyan ng Phil. Navy sumirko sa NLEX: 6 sugatan

By Thony Arcenal
Police Files, Martes, Hunyo 14, 2011

PLARIDEL, BULACAN - Himalang nakaligtas sa tiyak na kamatayan ang limang miyembro ng Philippine Navy at isang miyembro ng Philipppine National Police makaraang sumabog ang kanang bahagi ng gulong nito sa kahabaan ng Km-40 sa North Luzon Expressway sakop ng Brgy. Lalangan.

Base sa inisyal na imbestigasyon ng mga otoridad dakong 5:20 ng hapon patungo sa bahagi ng North Luzon ang mga biktima nang sumalpok ng makailang beses sa concrete fence ang sinasakyan nilang blue Toyota Tamaraw Wagon (UUK-520) na minamaneho ni SSgt. Arturo Almanza, 42, ng Philippine navy.

Sa report na tinanggap ni P/SSupt. Fernando H. Mendez Jr. OIC PNP Provincial Director kinilala ang mga sugatang biktima na sina SSgt. Ronald Antonio y Soliven 38, ng Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City; MSgt. Alberto Misyon y Pinafel 51, ng Las Piñas City; SSgt. Jude Rivera y Guzon 46, at CTO Marion Alex Galapali y Mayrong, 54 ng Payatas QC at PO2 Francis Lustiano y Pallere, 37, ng San Pedro Laguna habang himala na walang tinamong ugat sa katawan si SSgt. Manulabnan.

Patuloy na nilalapatan ng lunas sa Our Lady of mercy Hospital sa bayan ng Pulilan ang mga biktima.