Missing fisherman in Catanduanes found in Samar

Abs-cbn News, Saturday, Juy 25, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – One of 10 fishermen who went missing in Catanduanes for 4 days at the height of tropical storm “Falcon” was found Saturday in northern Samar.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said the fisherman, identified as Prospero Tabios, was found alive after being swept ashore.

Tabios was rushed to the hospital and is under the care of the Department of Health.

“Na-recover siya at kasalukayan siyang ginagamot. Apat na araw siyang hindi nakakain at nakainom. Masyadong maalat ang tubig dagat,” said Ramos.

Ramos said the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard are now scouring Bicol's seas in efforts to find the other missing fishermen.

Ramos said that with the recovery of Tabios, the NDRRMC remains hopeful that the 9 fishermen still missing are alive.

abs-cbnnews.com

Retired general recalled to continue as head of UN team

By Victor Reyes

Malaya, Friday, June 24, 2011

PRESIDENT Aquino has called back to active duty Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III so he can continue serving as commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observers Force (UNDOF) and as head of the Philippine mission in Golan Heights.

The UN requested that his tour of duty be extended.

Ecarma, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 on June 3.

He was called back to active service as a "naval reservist," said 1Lt. Cherry Tindog, Marines information officer.

Tindog noted it is "very rare" that a retired officer is called back to active duty.

Ecarma became UNDOF commander and Philippine head of mission at the Golan Heights in March last year, vice Austrian Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke.

UNDOF was established in 1974 to oversee the implementation of the disengagement or cease-fire agreement forged by the then warring Syrian and Israeli forces. UNDOF is composed of over a thousand troops Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan and Philippines.

Tindog said that before Ecarma reached the age of 56, the UN asked the Philippine government if it could extend Ecarma’s tour.

Under the law, all military officers, except the AFP chief whose term can be extended, should retire at the age of 56.

Officers who retire from the service automatically become members of the reserve force, said Tindog.

Tindog also said the UN request for the Philippines to extend Ecarma’s tour of duty should be a viewed as a "national pride."

"It seemed that world leaders consider him as someone who should not be let go. He is seen as somebody who is the most fitting person to occupy the positions. This does not mean that there are no others from other countries who can occupy his post, but they (UN officials) insist on having him," she added.

malaya.com.ph

UN rehires retired Filipino general peacekeeping force commander

By DJ Yap

Phiippine Daily Inquirer, Friday, June 24,2011

A Filipino general who commanded the 1,050-strong United Nations peacekeeping force in the Middle East’s troubled Golan Heights officially retired from the service this month.

But Gen. Natalio Ecarma III has been called back to duty—as a naval reservist this time—on the request of UN officials who have been impressed by his performance, according to the military.

A highly decorated Marine general, Ecarma became the force commander and head of mission for the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the disputed region in March 2010.

The Golan Heights is a 1,800-square kilometer hilly area overlooking the Jordan River valley. The area was part of Syria until the 1967 war, when a large part of it came under Israeli military occupation.

Ecarma officially retired from the military on June 3 and was conferred military honors last Wednesday, said Lt. Cherryl Pontillas Tindog, acting director of the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office.

Navy reservist

“However, he will not be retiring because the UN asked him to stay in his post and so President Aquino called him back to active duty as a naval reservist,” Tindog said.

She said this was the first time for such an arrangement to happen.

Tindog said Ecarma credited his success in the UN mission to his peacekeeping experience in the Mindanao conflict.

“He saw how important it is to have sincerity, humility and compassion when dealing with armed conflicts. When you engage in talks, you have to show that you’re sincere,” she said.

Part of his responsibilities included deploying forces, keeping morale high, giving a sense of direction to the mission, and employing military strategies, Tindog said.

His being called back to duty was a testament to the exemplary duty and leadership that Ecarma displayed and his “innate compassion and dedication,” she said.

“This is something that has inspired the troops and Marines like me. Maybe our people need to know this story to be inspired too,” she said.

Ecarma will be flying back to the Golan Heights on June 27.

globalnation.inquirer.net

3 US vessels to arrive in Puerto Princesa for exercises

By VR/Sunnex
Sun Star Manila, Friday, June 24,2011

THREE vessels from the United States will arrive in Puerto Princesa City on Tuesday as part of their participation in naval exercises with their Philippine counterpart, the second such exercise since 2008.

The USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Howard (DDG 83), both guided missile destroyers, and the USNS Safeguard (T-ARS), a diving and salvage ship, are part of the US Navy's "centerpieces" for the 11-day exercise, US Navy Lieutenant Commodore Mike Morlet, information officer of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat), said in a statement.

The three vessels are staffed by 800 persons.

To be conducted until July 8, the exercise will take place at the Sulu Sea, which is located east of Palawan. The area lies on the opposite side of the disputed Spratly Islands, which is reportedly rich in oil and mineral deposits.

The upcoming training is the 17th in the series of the annual Carat exercises. Last year, the exercises were held at the former US naval base in Subic Bay and in Cebu the previous year.

Among the training exercises covered by the program include visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises, diver training, salvage operations, joint medical, dental, and civic action projects, and aircrew familiarization exchanges.

"Additionally, there will be symposia on operations planning, search and rescue practices, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, interagency cooperation and public affairs," Morley said.

Meanwhile, the exercise's at-sea phase will be focused on "developing maritime security capabilities in areas such as maritime interdiction, information sharing, combined operations at sea, patrol operations and gunnery exercises, plus anti-piracy and anti-smuggling exercises."

Other participants to the exercises include the US Navy Seabees, A US Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST), US Navy Mobile Security Squadron, US Navy Riverine Forces, Medical Support personnel, and P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, he added.

For its part, the Philippines said four of its ships will be participating in the exercises, the Philippine Navy's spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Tonsay, said.

Besides the Philippines, the US also pursues similar CARAT exercises with the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

US and Vietnam also figure in Carat-like event known as Naval Exchange Activity.

sunstar.com.ph