Philippine Navy in the News

Friday, August 7, 2009

4 honor guards endure slow cortege

The Philippine STAR, Page 1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009

By JAMES MANANGHAYA
with stories from Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe

For more than eight hours, they stood in snappy military
fashion, undaunted by rain and steadfast in form despite
the hunger everybody else experienced during the long
procession that brought the late former President Corazon
Aquino to her final resting place at Manila Memorial Park
in Paranaque City yesterday.

Army Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman Second Class
Gener Laguindan, Navy Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez
and Police Officer 1 Danilo Maalab, who served as honor
guards for Mrs. Aquino's remains, displayed exceptional
discipline in the performance of their extraordinary task.

The ride from the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros was
agonizingly slow due to tens of thousands who wanted to pay
their last respects to the leader they fondly call "Tita Cory,"
but the four men in uniform stood in finest tradition, adding
solemnity and honor to the ceremony.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) spokesman told The STAR that the organization
is glad to have been given the chance to honor their
former Commander-in-Chief.

"And we are happy because
our soldiers and our police counterpart displayed our finest
tradition of discipline and professionalism."

Brawner said that the Army and Air Force soldiers came
from thei r mother unit' s escort battalions, while the Navy enlisted
man came from the office of reservist affairs. He said that after the exceptional
display of dedication to duty by these soldiers, the AFP
might recommend that they be given awards equivalent to
their recent task. "They were handpicked from the among the best our
honor guards. They can with stand hours and even a day I
without doing something but stand in attention. It's part of
their training. We call it discipline," Marine Lt. Col. Edgard
Arevalo, spokesman for the Philippine Navy (PN), said.

Also during the funeral rites, Mrs. Aquino's former security
chief, retired Lt. Gen. Voltaire Gazmin, her former junior military aide now Cavite
Rep. Jun Abaya and her former close-in escorts chief Lt. Gen. Jose Angel Homado
served as pallbearers at the Manila Memorial Park.

At the Manila Cathedral, senior police officers carried
her casket out of the church for the funeral march.
The Philippine National Police also rendered full honors
to the former President before she was laid to rest.

RP gives $20,000 to protect seamen

Manila Bulletin Sunday, July 26, 2009 7

By MADEL R. SABATER

In a bid to secure Filipino seafarers against piracy, President Arroyo has contributed US $20,OOO to the United Nations (UN) Trust Fund in Support of the Somali Transitional Security Institutions. The Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) said the funds will be used by the Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to beef up its security forces which will play a critical role in combating sea piracy and their principals on land. The fund will be managed by the UN Political Office for Somalia. There are currently 44 Filipino seafarers in the hands of Somali pirates. The Philippine Government has imposed a ban on the deployment of .Filipino seafarers in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding areas. It recently designated a Philippine navy officer to act as naval liaison to the Combined Maritime Forces in Manama, Bahrain.

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Navy seizes over P10-M worth of smuggled goods

2 Tuesday July 28,2009

Manila Bulletin

By ELENA L. ABEN

The Philippine Navy has confiscated more than P10 million worth of smuggled goods, including some 10,800 sacks of Vietnamese rice and 4,000 sacks of refined sugar, during a maritime patrol in Sulu and Basilan. Navy spokesman, Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, said reports reaching the Philippine Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard in Manila showed that BRP Jose Loor (PG 390), skippered by Lt. Reymond Umbac, was conducting maritime interdiction operation last week off Belan Point in Jolo when it sighted a watercraft transiting to Jun Dilan wharf in a suspicious manner. Arevalo said the Navy vessel immediately intercepted the watercraft and conducted board and search procedure. The watercraft with 12 crew and 10 passengers was identified M/L Menham and owned by a certain Hadji Hamsi Puntukan Hamsiraji. Inspection of the watercraft reportedly yielded some P8.25 million worth of dutiable goods comprised of 8,800 sacks of Vietnamese rice, 2,000 sacks of Thailand refined sugar, and other assorted food stuffs in cartons. Arevalo said it was also discovered that 800sacks of rice and 1,000sacksof sugar were misdeclared. The origin of the smuggled items is still unknown. The confiscated items were immediately turned over to the Bureau of Custom (BoC) Jolo port operation officer in the presence of Cdr. Ronnei Paba, Commander of the Naval Task Group "Sulu."Earlier, the Philippine Navy vessel IBRP Anastacio Cacayurin (PG387)'1skippered by Lt. Bernie Lim was also conducting maritime patrol in the west coast of Basilan province when it sighted an unknown watercraft transiting the vicinity northeast of Pilas Island. The Navy vessel immediately intercepted the watercraft and conducted board and search procedure. The watercraft was identified as M/L Fatima Zhiea operated by a certain Nursin Aukusa and owned by a certain Hji Eyam Kajibon of Isabela City. An inspection of the intercepted watercraft reportedly yielded some P2.7 million worth of dutiable goods from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

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Philippine Navy steps up anti-terror operations

The manila Times thursday july 23, 2007 a7
By: AL JACINTO

ZAMBOANGA City: The Philippine Navy has stepped up its patrol in the southern region of Mindanao following the spate of bombings and attacks blamed on terrorists. Authorities blamed the lndonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiah and the Abu Sayyaf and Mora rebels for the series of bombings in Sulu and Mindanao in recent weeks that left scores of civilians among fatalities

and the wounded. Indonesia also tagged the Jemaah Islamiah for the recent suicide bombings of the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, which killed nine people and wounded at least 53 others. We have stepped up our security patrol. We are fighting terrorism here,' said Admiral Alexander Pama, the Navy's regional commander in Mindanao. He said Navy gunboats regularly

patrol the Moro Gulf, the Mindanao, Sulu and Celebes seas where pirates are actively operating.

Last week, authorities seized some 350 kilos of banned ammonium nitrate and 1,800 pieces of blasting caps and detonating cords from a cargo vessel in Cebu that was heading for Iligan City in Mindanao. The spikes in bomb attacks in Mindanao and Sulu also coincided with the release of three kidnapped Red Cross workers held by the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah. The military has last week deployed hundreds of soldiers in Basilan and Sulu provinces to crush

the Abu Sayyaf.

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Navy bantay-sarado

'Abante: July 23, 2009
By: Al Jacinto

ZAMBOANGA CITY --- Naghigpil Ngayon ang Philippine Navy at lalong pinaigting ang pagpapatrulya sa karagatan ng Mindanao matapos ang sunud-sunod na pambobomba ng mga terorista at rebeldeng grupo. lbinintang ng mga awtoridad sa Indonesian terror group na Jemaah Islamiya at Abu Sayyaf, gayundin sa rebeleng Moro ang mga pagsabog sa Sulu at Mindanao na ikinasawi at ikinasugat ng maraming sibilyan. Sa Indonesia ay isinabit rin ng mga awtoridad doon ·sa Jemaah Islamiya ang pambobomba sa Marriott at Ritz-Carlton hotels sa Jakarta na ikinamatay ng siyam nakatao at pagkasugat ng 53iba pa."We have stepped upour security patrol. We are fighting terrorism here,"ani Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, ang commander ng navy sa Mindanao, Patuloy ang patrulya ng navy sa Moro Gulf, Mindanao, Sulu at Celebes Seas, mga lugar na kung saan ay aktibo ang mga pirata.

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Navy fights hunger with garden project

Manila Bulletin Sunday, July 19, 2009 13

By ELENA L. ABEN

The Philippine Navy has embarked on a new project dubbed "urban vegetable gardening." "From eliminating, we now do growing," Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman, said, as he discussed the Naval force’s new project. Arevalo said that from eliminating enemies in line with the governments, war on terror to conducting rescue and relief missions, the Philippine Navy led by its Flag Officer-in-Command, Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, focuses on a new program aimed at fighting bigger enemy - hunger. In support of the government's campaign against hunger, the Philippine Navy has converted a 600-square meter former trash site at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City into an organic vegetable garden. Arevalo said that the organic garden is one of the Navy's environment friendly projects. He said that the program will showcase an eco-friendly garden in Metro Manila, which can also be a good source of healthy diet and additional income. The urban vegetable gardening is pioneered by the Navy's engineering arm, the Naval Construction Brigade (NCBde) or Seabees. In promoting the "green project," the Team Navy collaborated with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in transforming the land into a garden. "The Navy's urban garden was realized thru the initiative of the Seabees

aided by the technical expertise and seedlings from BPI. Organic fertilizers like compost and farming methods were used to grow vegetables like alugbati, upland kangkong, bush sitaw, s31uyot, pechay, raddish, eggplant, and ginger. At the launching ceremony, the Navy chief expressed cited the health benefits of organic-grown vegetables. He said: "Vegetable is an important ingredient of our diet and input for good health." Seeing the potential of the garden,

Golez challenged Navy personnel to replicate the project in all units of the Command and to sustain the project and make vegetable gardening "a part of our daily life in the Navy." Arevalo said the project which targets optimum yield over minimum inputs will showcase technologies

in growing vegetables, herbs and spices. He added that the new project will serve as a model for other communities in the urban area to grow vegetables in their backyards or even in containers.

"This in a way will produce quality vegetables for home consumption, generate income, and help minimize waste in the area through composting," the Navy spokesman said. The Philippine Navy has expanded its role to include the protection of our environment. After launching its own Ecological Waste Segregation Program at Fort San Felipe, Cavite City early this year, the Navy now embarks into another eco-friendly project, the Urban Garden. "This project further attests to the Navy's commitment in preserving our natural resources," Arevalo said. Josephine Garcia, representative from the BPI, said: "The garden is not only a good source of organic vegetables

that promotes one's health, but is also a good source of additional income."

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'NO TALKS WITH TERRORISTS' Marines chief vows no letup vs Abu

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009 PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

By Jocelyn R. Uy

NEWLY APPOINTED MARINE COMMANdant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban vowed yesterday

that Marines based in Sulu would not take a softer line in their pursuit against the Abu Sayyaf bandit group. Saban yesterday took over the highest post in the Philippine Marines as its new commandant. He replaced Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, who is taking command of government

forces in Southwestern Mindanao. But despite his new designation, Sabban will have to fly back to Sulu to continue ongoing offensives against the bandit group while his replacement as chief of Task Force Comet has yet to be named, Sabban told reporters after the turnover rites at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City. "Until such time there is a replacement, I will have to continue my duty. It's very basic in the military that when you are not relieved [from your post], you have to stand your ground," he said. The US-educated top Marine firmly said that government troops on the ground would never relent in going after the Abu Sayyaf. “As what

we have been saying before, there should be no negotiations with terrorists," he added. He said troops on Jolo island were sufficient in number but they needed additional modern equipment to step up the fight against terrorism, Sabban pointed out as he disclosed the military's acquisition of new tools in its mission. ''We are in the process of getting these equipment," he said, but declined to elaborate. Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Philippine National Red Cross, had proposed granting amnesty to elderly Abu Sayyaf leaders but this· was rejected by Malacañang.

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Sabban officially takes over Marines' helm

Saturday, July 18, 2009 The Daily Tribune 3
By: Mario J. Mallari

Former coup plotter and Young Officers Union (YOU) founding member Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban yesterday formally assumed the post of commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC). Sabban, a member of the controversial Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978 which has President Arroyo as its honorary member, replaced Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, who was appointed commanding general of the military's Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City. "He is a seasoned officer, he can walk chin up with his promotion, “a Marine officer facing court martial prooceedings fur the February 2006 alleged mutiny told the Tribune during a hearing on Thursday. "He is well-respected, not only within the Marines, but also in the entire military circle,' the officer, who wanted to be anonymous, said of Sabban. "He is a principled gentleman. He deserves it,' another officer said of Sabban. Other members of the PMA Class of 1978include incumbent Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, National Capital Region Police Office director, Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Preztosa. As ajunior officer, Sabban was among the YOU members, including now detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and fellow Marine and Medal of Valor awardee Col. Ariel Querubin, who joined forces with the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) in staging the bloody December 1989coup d'etat against the Aquino administration. Before his promotion, Sabban served as the commanding general of the Joint Task Force Comet, the lead military unit running after the Abu Sayyaf terror group led by Albader Parad and Abu Jumdail, alias "Dr. Abu,' which had kidnapped three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers and held them in captivity in the jungles of the southern island province of Sulu. His appointment as Marine commandant was announced a day after the last ICRC hostage to be held by the Abu Sayyaf, Italian Eugenio Vagni, was released by the bandit group in Maimbung town, Sulu last Sunday.

The two other ICRC workers - Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter - were released by the militants last April 2 and 18, respectively, in Indanan town. The turnover ceremonies at the PMC headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City were presided over by Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez and was attended by the military's top brass, led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado. In his assumption speech, Sabban, who was chosen as among the 10 Outstanding Pilipino Soldiers by the Metrobank Foundation in 2003, called on the 8,000 strong Marines, who are known to be the AFP's invasion force, to be ready for non-traditional roles to properly cope up with the changing times. "To be able to cope with the rapidly evolving national security concerns, exigencies and demands brought about by these modern times, the Marine Corps must evolve as well, and its men and women must acquire new knowledge and skills and be prepared to perform non-traditional roles and tasks,' he said.

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New WesMinCom chief wants ASG eliminated

8 Saturday, July 18, 2009 Tempo

By: Nonoy E. Lacson

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Newly-installed Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) chief, Marine Major General Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino has a clear policy eliminate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). "We will sustain our combat operations and enhance further the intensity of the operations against the Abu sayyaf Group, so that we will be able to eliminate this group the soonest time possible," Dolorfino said yesterday. Dolorfino assumed Thursday as the third commander of WesMil1- Com which was activated on Aug. 29, 2006. He replaced Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga who stepped down upon his retirement. The new WesMinCom commander told his men that the offensive against the ASG, particularly in Sulu and Basilan, will be intelligence-driven and must be

precise in nature to avoid collateral damage and displacement of civilians.

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GMA names Sabban as new Marines Commandant

A6 Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday, July 15, 2009

By Tarra Quismundo
With a report from Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-Arroyo has chosen another "mistah" to lead a major military

command, appointing Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban as commandant of the Philippine Marines.

Sabban, a member of Ms Arroyo's adoptive Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of

1978, headed Task Force Comet, the military's joint antiterrorism unit, based in Sulu. Sabban's appointment on Monday came two days after Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni was released by Abu Sayyaf kidnappers. . Sabban will replace Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfmo during a command turnover ceremony on Friday, according to Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces spokesperson. Dolorfino will take over the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), one of the busiest military unified area commands because of their active campaigns against terrorism

and insurgency in Mindanao. Dolorfino will succeed Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, who will retire

tomorrow upon reaching the age of 56 years. Reached by the INQUIRER for comment· last night in Manila, Dolorfino, a two-star general, said in a text message that "there is no promotion or demotion in assignments.'! Dolorfino viewed his new post as a promotion since it was actually held by three-star generals. Being Wesmincom' chief is "better," he said, since he could perform as "ground operator," directly supervising his men. Sabban "is the most senior among the Marines for the position," Brawner Jr. said, explaining that deliberations wertt on long before Sabban succeeded in securing Vagni's release. Nominations went through the Armed Forces' Board of Generals, Department of National Offense and, finally, Malacañang, Brawner Jr. said.

Sabban, he said, was among those on the short list. "We're expecting that General Sabban can do a good job as commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps. He has done a good job as commander of Task Force Comet and, of course, our chief of staff, Gen. Victor Ibrado, has full trust and confidence in him," the military spokesperson said. Sabban was known to have taken part in the December 1989 coup attempt against then President Corazon Aquino, alongside his mistah, Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, as members of the Young Officers' Union. Lim is now detained on rebellion charges. But the military believes in second chances, Brawner Jr. said. "Everybody is given another chance ... There might have been instances in his career where he might have gone against military rules and regulations, but everybody's given an equal chance to prove himself." In May, one of Ms Arroyo's most favorite generals, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, became chief of the Philippine Army, the largest military service command. The assignment was widely believed to be preposturing for his eventual ascent to the military helm by election season

next year.

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Sabban,PMA'78, named Marines chief

Malaya Wednesday, July 15, 2009 A1

• BY VICTOR REYES

PRESIDENT Arroyo has appointed Maj. Gcn, Juancho Sabban, the commander of the military's Joint Task Force Comet, as commandant of the Marine Corps. Sabban will assume his position on Friday, replacing Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino who will take over the Western Mindanao Command on Thursday. Dolorflno will succeed Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga who is retiring. AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said Sabban's replacement has not been decided. He said three officers were recommended, including Marines vice commander Brig. Gen. Natalio Encanna. Told that Sabban has a history of military adventurism (he took part in 1989 coup attempt), Brawner said: "There might have been instances in his career where he went against the rules and regulations ...but everybody is given the chance to prove himself."

Sabban belongs to Philippine Military Academy Class '78 where the President is an honorary member. Task Force Comet was instrumental in the recovery of Italian Eugenio Vagni, a worker of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who was released by his Abu Sayyaf captors Sunday dawn. Sabban was among many military officers who launched the December 1989 coup which was thwarted by the intervention of the United States. Among those who also took part in the coup were former First Scout Ranger Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Urn and Marine Co\. Ariel Querubin. Both are under detention, facing court, martial for involvement in the failed attempt to overthrow the government in February 2006

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Sabban to head Marines

A2 WEDNESDAY July 15, 2009
By: Florante S. Solerin and Joyce Pañares

AN OFFICER who joined the bloodiest coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino in

1989 has been named the new commandant of the Marines. Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, outgoing Task Force Comet commander, assumes his new position on Friday, replacing Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, the incoming head of the Western Mindanao Command whose leader, Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, is retiring on Thursday. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo signed Sabban's appointment Monday night. Sabban graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1978, and Dolorfino in 1976. President Arroyo has also appointed Manila Regional Trial Court judge Manuel Barrios as associate justice of the Court of Appeals. Barrios was among the judges nominated by the Supreme Court's Judicial and Bar Council to fill the vacancies in the appellate court. Sabban's appointment came in the wake of the release of Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, who was freed by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu on Sunday. Vagni was kidnapped along with two other Red Cross workers in January, but his co-workers were released in April. Sabban's Comet was tasked to go after the AI Qaida-linked Abu bandits operating in Sulu and Basilan. The military could not immediately give a shortlist of candidates for Sabban's successor.

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Deployment of Marine soldiers as Cotabato peacemakers urged

14 Manila Bulletin wednesday, july 15, 2009

By NONOY E. LACSON

COTABATO CITY- Businessmen including church leaders and local government officials yesterday asked President Arroyo to send a contingent of Marine soldiers to this city to help

policemen and Army soldiers prevent the escalation of hostilities here particularly kidnapping and bombings. The Cotabato Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, religious leaders and local officials said they are confident that the peace and order situation would normalize if members of Philippine Marines will serve as peacekeepers in the city. It was gathered that President Arroy on is scheduled to visit this city on Friday to meet with religious leaders, Army and police officials and local government executives in an effort to address the security problem of the city. Earlier, at least six persons were killed and 52others were injured when a man planted an improvised explosive device IED) near a stall fronting the Cotabato Cathedral last July 5. As an aftermath of the bombing, the business community suspended their operations last Friday in what they described as "indignation protest" against terrorism and other

forms o£ violence that are taking place in this city. "We feel secured if the Marines are seen on the streets, there's no abuses too," a Filipino-Chinese trader said. "Like in the '90s, when the Marines were here, many kidnappers and bombers were neutralized," he added. Members of the city council here favor the deployment of battle tested and disciplined Marine soldiers in this city as a peacemakers. Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen also join the people here in calling Mrs. Arroyo to deploy a contingent of Marine soldiers here aimed at thwarting the spate of violence besetting the city. . "I have been proposing that idea, but there are people who opposed to it," Dilangalen said, without naming them.

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Navy officer appointed to anti-piracy task force

4 Manila Bulletin Tuesday, July 14, 2009

By ROY C. MABASA

A Philippine Navy officer has been appointed by the government to act as liaison to the multinational task force conducting maritime security and anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. The appointment of a naval liaison was an initiative of Vice President and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers Noli de Castro as the Philippines' contribution to international efforts to stem piracy. However, the identity of the officer has yet to be disclosed until his actual deployment in Manama, Bahrain where he will work with the Anti-Piracy Task Force under the United States 7th Fleet. De Castro cited the "urgency" in assigning a Filipino naval attaché in the Anti-Piracy Task Force to help monitor the condition of Filipino seamen held hostage by the pirates and immediately coordinate assistance to the seafarers. He said the assignment of a naval attache also aims to establish a command that will provide guidance and safety instructions to vessels with Filipino crewmembers, passing the danger zone of the Gulf of Aden. De Castro also said efforts to secure the safe and early release of 44 Filipino seamen held hostage in Somalia are ongoing. "We are aware that negotiations continue and that all 44 Filipinos are unharmed. We continue to hope and pray for a positive outcome," De Castro said

As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate directly with pirates. However, the government coordinates closely with concerned foreign authorities and local manning agencies of the hijacked vessels to secure the early and safe release of Filipino seafarers. Until the security situation has stabilized, the Department of Foreign Affairs has recommended the imposition of a ban on the deployment of Filipino seafarers in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding areas.

Friday, August 7, 2009

The manila Times thursday july 23, 2007 a7By: AL JACINTO

The manila Times thursday july 23, 2007 a7
By: AL JACINTO