RP, Indonesia tackle border dispute in gab

By: CARLO P. MALLO, Reporter

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 10, 2009.

DEFINING the border of the Philippines and Indonesia is one of issues discussed during the 28th Vice Chairman's Conference of the Philippines-Indonesia Border Committee conducted in Manado , Indonesia last week.

The Philippines and Indonesia are now working together to draw up a clearer definition of the border between the two countries to prevent the overlapping of territorial areas.

"We hope to be able to resolve a few issues in this meeting. And one of them is the definition of mutually agreed coordinated border patrol area between the two countries. We want to have a clearer definition of our border area," said Commodore Ediberto Suria, chief of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) who headed the Philippine delegation during the conference.

The Naval Force chief said there is a strong need to revise the area of coordinated patrol operation because of the changes brought about by the new baseline laws of both countries that were separately passed recently.

He said the coordinated patrol between Indonesia and the Philippines has actually identified certain existing areas but these have to be revised to define a common maritime border patrol area with respect to the new baseline laws.

"There is a need to identify new coordinates for the common maritime border patrol areas to meet the challenging demands of addressing various perceived and possible threats between the two countries," Suria said.

The need to define an agreed median line in the border area has to be mutually agreed upon by both Indonesia and the Philippines .

"Once it will be defined, it will now determine where we can conduct combined or coordinated patrols. Right now, without that median line, we just look at which areas can become the border areas," the NFEM chief said..

At present, the Philippines and Indonesia have three border patrol stations and are currently actively working on ushering business opportunities for the two countries in Mindanao and East Indonesia .

"What we are trying to do here is to as much as possible come up with a formal trade route that would enhance cross-border trading and travel between the two areas. Those passing through the route that we establish would be protected by authorities especially since they also pay the correct tariffs and duties," Suria added. (CPM)

Navy rescues 20 fishermen off Palawan

By; Bong Garcia Jr/Correspondent

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Navy rescued 20 fishermen drifting off Palawan on Monday. Four others are still missing.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman, said the fishermen were rescued at about 1 p.m. on Monday about 10 nautical miles off Sinamahan Reef, Palawan.

Arevalo said the fishermen, who are all from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, were traveling to Sinamahan Reef aboard FB John Paul when their boat capsized after it was battered by big waves spawned by Tropical Storm Ondoy.

He said Navy personnel aboard ML Super Nashville who were at the time conducting routine maritime patrol immediately acted on reports of the incident and rescued the 20 fishermen 10 nautical miles off Sinamahan Reef.

Arevalo said the Navy tried to sustain the search-and-rescue operations but failed to find the other four owing to deteriorating weather condition.

Rescued were Armando Wagwag, 57, owner of the FB John Paul and boat master; Micheal Conversion, 40; Romulo Wagwag, 25; Gomercindo Tanyo, 24; Charlito Celiona, 51; Eric Macaraya, 37; Renato Degrano, 18; Roman Tanyo, 31; Raymund Duallo, 26; Reymundo Duallo, 50; Micheal Duallo, 30; Edgar Lambuon, 18; Saturnino Unok, 36; Rolando Amorin, 32; Diosephos Degrano, 20; Martin Segurino, 51; Isagani Flores, 36; Reymundo Balasi, 36; Juanito Paquhibot, 39; and Charlito Wagwag, 35.

Arevalo said the rescued fishermen were taken to Balabac town, where they were transferred to BRP Juan Magluyan (PG-392) and transported to Puerto Princesa City for medical treatment.

Arevalo said the Naval Forces West commander, Commo. Orwen Cortez, has dispatched all available assets to conduct search and rescue for the remaining four missing fishermen.

Still missing are Romulo Manahay, 31; Roque Legaspi, 32; Federico Amit Jr., 28; and German Gonzales, 30.

Navy brings life to Batanes

The Philippine STAR Wednesday, 23 September 2009

By: Jack Castaño

BASCO, Batanes - Life in this northernmost province of
the country is returning to normalcy, following the arrival of
a Philippine Navy mine sweeper frigate on Sunday to
deliver emergency fuel to run the National Power Corp. generators.

The islanders have been without electric fuel since
Sept. 4. To solve the problem, the Napocor initially reduced
its operating hours to 16, from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. for the
whole Batan island.

In the island-municipalities of Sabtang and Itbayat,
power was reduced to 12 hours.

On Sept. 13, electric power was further reduced to 12
hours in the mainland and six hours in Sabtang and Itbayat.

In as much as the Napocor could not get a ship large
enough to bring a year's supply of diesel fuel, the mission
was given to the Philippine Navy.

However, for lack of a logistics ship, the Navy had to pullout
Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Quezon (PS70) from the
operation area in Southern Philippines to bring immediately
fuel.

Early Sunday morning PS70, under the command of
one Commodore Quines, steamed to port with 60,000 liters
of Napocor fuel. The fuel is expected to last for at least
24 days at the reduced operating hours of 16 hours a day.

In a speech Monday afternoon in Mahatao town, where
the Navy conducted a medical-dental-civic program, Naval
Forces Northern Philippines Chief, Commodore Jose
Alano said, their quick response was the result of the
coordination of three offices.

"Gov. Telesforo Castillejos has a standing invitation to the
Navy to conduct maritime patrol in the sea frontier of the
province and to conduct civil military operations," Alano
told his audience.

"The governor's request was delayed because of the operational
commitments of the Navy vessels in Mindanao,"
he said.

"When Rep. Carlo Diasnes' request came last week, Admiral
Ferdinand Golez, Navy chief, immediately informed
me to get ready for the joint mission in response to the requests
of Gov. Castillejos, Rep. Diasnes and that of our unit,"
Alano said.

The Civil-military group of the NFNL attended to at least
120 medical and dental patients and painted the home
economics building of the Mahatao Elementary School.

The Naval personnel also distributed 220 liters of regular
gasoline to local residents who own a motor vehicle.

Moreover, the MV Transend, a 700 ton-commercial ship
docked Monday afternoon at the Basco pier to unload much
needed supplies.

Navy, PAF: Gallantry amid disaster

Manila Bulletin, Sunday, 13 September 2009

By: Dexter A See

The Armed Forces' naval and air force assets and personnel once again
proved their genuine humanism as they displayed amazing gallantry amid
disaster when they braved the perilous seas to save lives following the sinking
of SuperFerry 9 off Sibuco Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and M/V Hera
in Eastern Samar.

Responding to a distress call, the men and women of the Navy and
the Philippine Air Force (PAF) faced danger and demonstrated the true
meaning of soldiery as they worked day and night, scouring the seas in search
of survivors.

This selfless act of the military only attests to what President Arroyo once
said when she gave recognition to the bravery of soldiers, that "the uniform
is not only a symbol of vigilance but a symbol of caring and sharing in a world
of calamity and strife."

THE NAVY

OnThursday, the Navy bestowed the "Distinguished Navy Cross" award to
Gunnersmate 3rd Class Anifer Bucao and Fireman 1st Class Aviation Mechanic
Oliver Cogo, for distinguished heroism while serving as sea marshals
onboard the ill-fated SuperFerry 9.

Cogo, 33, was reportedly the last person to jump off the sinking ship.
Disregarding his own safety, Cogo did not leave the ship until he was sure
there was no one else left on board the vessel.

Based on his narration, among those he was able to help safely disembark
were 15 children, the last of whom was a special child whom he recalled
was even punching him then. Cogo and Bucao, 35,were presented to the media
by Navy Flag Officer-in-Command, Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, who
pinned their medals.

An order signed by Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, Chief of Naval Staff,
stated, "Upon hearing the ship master's command to abandon ship, Bucao
and Cogo disregarded personal safety and voluntarily remained on board to
provide aid and comfort to disoriented passengers."

Throughout the incident, Bucao and Cogo demonstrated remarkable gallantry
and sound judgment by giving clear "abandon ship" instructions to
passengers and personally led them to disembarkation stations.

Bucao and Cogo helped distribute lifejackets while trying to calm down
the passengers by telling them that rescue is on its way. Bucao admitted
fearing for his own life but still managed to maintain presence of mind.
He said he decided to jump off the sinking vessel only after making sure
that there was no one else left in his sector.

Cogo said, "Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon dahil binigyan niya ako ng
lakas ng loob," he narrated.
i
"Nakita ko nakahawak na ang mga tao sa railings, ang mga bata nag-iiyakan
na so as a sea marshal I checked the lifejackets of all passengers. There
were almost 300 passengers on my side."

The abandon ship order was announced by the captain at about 3:35
a.m. but it was already around 8:00 a.m. when Cogo jumped off the ship.
As he jumped into the sea, Cogo said he noticed a man having difficulty with
his lifejacket so he decided to throw his lifejacket to the man, thinking that he
can handle the situation better than the civilian because of his training.
Without any lifesupport, Cogoswam as fast as he could, away from the sinking
SuperFerry 9 until he reached one of the navy vessels that responded to the
distress call.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Naval Forces Western
Mindanao Commander Rear Admiral Alexander Pama dispatched as early as
4:40a.m. on that fateful day two Patrol Gunboats - PG 116 under Commander
Carlos Sabarre and PG117 under LCdr Teofilo Pulmano - to respond to a distress
call from the SuperFerry 9.

Navy personnel rescued a total of 444 survivors, including the Captain of
the ship, and recovered four out of the ten fatalities during the entire rescue
and recovery operations.

THE AIR FORCE

With the advent of modernization, the very war machines that used to
conquer territories and punish the belligerent were given new tasks - to
save lives.

This was proven anew by the Philippine Air Force in the typhoon-swept
seas of Eastern Samar where the treacherous waters of the Pacific
Ocean and the Eastern Philippine Sea battered a Panamanian registered cargo
vessel, M/V Hera, manned by four Korean nationals and 15 Filipinos.

The vessel sunk off the coast of Eastern Samar around 6 p.m. on the
same day that tragedy hit the SuperFerry 9.

Two hours past midnight following the sinking, Lt. Col Romeo Jerome
Dirilo Jr., the deputy commander of Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations
Group based in Tacloban City, was informed by the commander of
AFP Central Command based in Cebu to prepare for an early morning search
and rescue operation.

At 5:40 a.m. the PAF's 2nd Air Division based in Mactan sent two UH-IH
- the trusted workhorse of most armies all over the world - with a rescue team
from the 505th Search and Rescue Group on board, to the headquarters
of the Philippine Army's 14th Infantry Battalion in Oras, Eastern Samar,
which was the military's nearest outpost in the scene of the sinking.

Hueys number 516 and 514,piloted by Captain Arvin Zara and Captain
Almer Augustine Irineo, respectively, were joined by UH-IH number 225
and 276 piloted by Captain Cherrylane Laforteza and Captain Celito Balico,
respectively.

The gutsy lady pilot and her wingman, who were based in Tacloban,
took off at exactly 6:27 a.m. amidst inclement weather. They were initially
set to conduct resupply mission that day to support ground troopers of the
Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade but were instead directed to support the
search and rescue operation.

It was a case of what to prioritize for the Tacloban based helicopters - to
save lives or to deliver the supplies of the troops. At the 14IB base, they were
informed that the 19 survivors of M/V Hera were already onboard a lifeboat
and are being towed by a responding fishing vessel towards Oras, Eastern
Samar. With the seafarers now in safe hands, the lady pilot and her wingman
proceeded to the 803rd Infantry Brigade in Catarman. A few minutes later,
her Cebu compatriots arrived.

Soon after delivering the goods, the Tacloban-based Hueys returned
to Oras to join the Cebu contingent in airlifting the survivors to Cebu upon
the request of the owners of the sunken vessel.

Twelve hours of flight amidst inclement weather and 10 sorties that
rescued 4 Korean and 15 Filipino seafarers were performed without
any untoward incident - a testament to the readiness of Air Force units in
performing life-sensitive missions that has become their way of life.