Troopers guarding West Philippine Sea get Christmas gifts from OFWs

Overseas Filipino workers have forwarded boxes of Christmas items to soldiers guarding the West Philippine Sea.

Dubbed as the "Saludo Package", the Christmas packages contain canned goods, news magazines, DVDs, toiletries and even cigarettes.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, 7th Civil Relations Group (CRG) commander, was among those who spearheaded the collection of gifts for the soldiers.

He said that he started the "Saludo Package" project in 2012 through his Facebook friends.

“My FB friends had always expressed their intent to provide support for the soldiers who are in the frontlines. Having experienced the hard life in the distant posts, I was motivated to gather all these donations and send them to the soldiers in the field,” Cabunoc stressed.

The recent donations were forwarded to the Marine unit which has operational control over the troopers deployed in the nine reefs and islets claimed by the Philippines.

The 7th CRG intends to send at least one box of assorted goods to every territory that is guarded by the soldiers.

Sometime in August 2013, Cabunoc used his FB account to float the idea of sending Christmas gifts for the military personnel stationed to protect the Philippine territories in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

He said that Filipinos from all corners of the globe promptly replied to send their pledges.

“We received donations from OFWs who are working in the US, Germany, Australia, Japan and the Middle East. This is on top of the donations sent by Manila-based Pinoys who also wanted to show their appreciation for the service of our soldiers,” Cabunoc said.

Initially, three "balikbayan" boxes were sent for soldiers guarding Ayungin shoal and Rizal reef. Another box intended for Lawak reef is now gradually filled with assorted goods.

Kent Flores a Japan-based OFW from Iloilo is one of the donors.

He said that he wanted to make the soldiers happy during Christmas.

“Gusto ko lang na magpasalamat sa ating mga sundalo na taos-pusong nagsisilbi sa ating bayan. Kahit sa ganitong pamamaraan ay maipakita ko sa kanila na kinikilala namin ang kanilang kabayanihan (I want to thank our soldiers and give something in return for their heroism),” said Flores upon his arrival at NAIA barely a week ago.

Priscilla Sheppard of Australia also sent donations through a courier service which would be arriving after Christmas.

“Please let the soldiers know that a friend from Down Under appreciates their service,” said Sheppard in her FB message.

Meanwhile, Georgio Dano of New York, sent cash donation intended to buy provisions. He said that he will convince more people to support the project.

“I will forward the story to some officer friends of mine in the United States Navy. I've always been helping the Armed Forces here and abroad,” said Dano, a native of Cebu City, in his FB message.


Cabunoc said that aside from the "Saludo Package", he has also started the "Equip a Soldier" program this year.Five soldiers from the Army Scout Ranger, Philippine Marine Corps and the Philippine Air Force had received US made tactical boots that can last longer during foot patrols in the rugged terrain of the country. 

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Abu Sayyaf leader killed in Sulu operation

A senior Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader who tried to resist arrest in Sitio Luwas, Barangay Nuknukan, Parang town, was killed in a shootout on Monday with operatives of the Sulu Provincial Police.

The slain ASG leader was identified as Fraser Hajan.

The encounter between authorities and the ASG leader took place around 1:15 a.m.
Police were out to arrest the suspect based on the two arrest warrants issued by Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 46 Presiding Judge Erlinda Uy.

Hajan is wanted for several counts of kidnapping and other crimes.

Instead of cooperating with authorities, the suspect fired at the arresting police, prompting the latter to retaliate and resulted in the wounding of Hajan, who later died while being rushed at a local hospital.


Recovered from the suspect was a .45 caliber pistol, two magazines with 14 rounds of ammunition, a Nokia RM-55 cellphone, spy camera, four hearing aids and suspected Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) documents.

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Taiwanese to Philippine Marines: Thank You for Saving Me!

A Taiwanese tourist whose husband was killed by gunmen in a kidnapping incident at a Malaysian island resort returned to Taiwan yesterday and thanked Filipino soldiers who rescued her in southern Philippines.

Television footage showed Chang An-wei, 58, dressed in a loose T-shirt and wearing sunglasses, walking to a minibus parked at an airport near Taipei after she arrived early afternoon, waving briefly to the media and giving a thumbs-up sign.

Taiwanese media said she is expected to go to a hospital in Taipei for medical check-ups later yesterday.
Chang was found by Philippine Marines at a village near Talipao, a town on the remote island of Jolo where Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants are known to operate, and was taken to a local military hospital for a medical check-up on Friday.

“I think I just want to say I deeply appreciate the Philippine military for giving me such a big help and assistance to rescue me. Thank you very much,” Chang said in English in a pre-recorded message aired by several Taiwanese news channels yesterday.

Chang and her husband Hsu Li-min were holidaying on Pom Pom island in Sabah state, which is near the Sulu island group that includes Jolo, when gunmen attacked on Nov. 15, kidnapping her and killing her husband, according to Taiwanese officials and media.

Foreign ministry officials in Taiwan said that Hsu’s body was cremated in Malaysia and that his family brought back his ashes to Taiwan last month.

Taiwanese media said Chang’s family allegedly paid the kidnappers around $300,000 in ransom to secure her release.

“She was not abused ... the kidnappers wanted money, not her life,” Chang’s brother Chang Ta-kung said.
He declined to disclose any detail relating to the negotiations for her release.

Local authorities said the identities of Chang’s kidnappers were unknown, though Abu Sayyaf gunmen who are known to carry out kidnappings operate in the area.

A Jordanian television reporter, Bakr Atyani, walked free from a Jolo jungle earlier this month, 18 months after he was abducted by the Islamist militants. 

The Abu Sayyaf is a small Islamist movement that has been blamed for a string of terrorist attacks and kidnappings of foreigners in the Philippines.

US Special Forces have been rotating through Jolo and other parts of the southern Philippines for more than a decade to train local troops battling the group, which is on Washington’s list of “foreign terrorist organisations”.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen are believed still to hold a number of foreign as well as Filipino hostages in Jolo, including two European birdwatchers and a Japanese treasure hunter, according to local officials.
It was founded with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network to fight for an independent Islamic state, though it later turned into a criminal gang.

Dutchman Ewold Horn and Lorenzo Vinciguerra of Switzerland were abducted in the Tawi-Tawi island group near Jolo in February last year, while Amer Mamaito Katayama of Japan was abducted on the island of Pangutaran near Jolo in July 2010.

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Rebels attack military detachments in Sorsogon

Members of the New People's Army attacked two military detachments in Sorsogon on Saturday, hours after the Yuletide ceasefire with the rebels took effect.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said the rebel attacks in Casiguran and Gubat towns occurred Saturday dawn, shortly after government forces began observing the 26-day Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO).

“They opened fire on our detachments, knowing that we are not on offensive operations. We returned fire and they withdrew,” Tutaan said.

There were no reported injuries or deaths from the government side during the encounter. Tutaan added that government troops were not able to determine if there were casualties inflicted on the rebels who withdrew.

The government truce was announced by Malacanang officials last Friday, shortly after the military commemorated its 78th foundation anniversary. The government truce is shorter compared to last year’s SOMO which lasted from December 16 to January 15.

The NPA will be observing their holiday truce on December 24, 25, 26, 31, January 1 and 2.

Tutaan believes that the rebels are taunting the soldiers to launch offensive military operations so that they can be charged of violating the SOMO.

He added that the military is bent on implementing the truce despite the rebel attacks.

Tutaan chastised the rebels for not including the civilians in their upcoming ceasefire. He noted that the rebel truce is limited only to government troops, which means that they can still attack civilian targets.

“Look at what they declared, it's only against the military and the police but they are not saying they are not going to harass civilian (targets). It's because this is where they earn money,” the official said.

The NPA is known to harass companies and other civilians if they fail to pay revolutionary "tax."

Tutaan assured that government troops will exert efforts to ensure the safety of the civilians during the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines criticized AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista for ridiculing the six-day rebel truce.

Bautista said Thursday that the rebel truce was too short as he proposed that the NPA should implement a ceasefire that last "forever" to stop the suffering of the people affected by the insurgency.

“To declare a ceasefire ‘to last forever’ will only bring forth an eternal hell of military abuses, land-grabbing and environmental destruction,” the CPP said in a statement.

“General Bautista’s proposals are moronic, to say the least. Such thoughtless remarks reflect the AFP’s inability to understand the deep-seated reasons behind the Filipino people’s armed resistance and view the civil war only from the myopic perspective of a one track-minded fascist,” the CPP added.

The CPP also said the peasants, the fisherfolk and the minority indigenous people will be affected once they agree to a long-lasting ceasefire.

“To muzzle the guns of the NPA is to surrender the schools, the clinics, the farms and the peace which the peasant masses have established through their new democratic government that has been built on the people’s collective strength,” it said.

“Where the Aquino regime and the reactionary state and its armed forces are weak and practically non-existent, organs of the people’s democratic government are being established to serve the interests of the poor peasants, indigenous peoples and fisherfolk,” the CPP added.

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Philippine Navy frigates, choppers: Essential in maintaining Philippine sovereignty

Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano has said that its frigates and naval helicopters are essential in maintaining the country's sovereignty.

He made this statement during the sidelights of the commissioning ceremony of the Navy's three latest AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters.

These helicopters, along with two armed versions coming by the third quarter of 2014, are worth around P1.33 billion.

"All of these (frigates and naval helicopters) are essential to ensure that we are able to secure our sovereignty (and) protect our national interest," Alano stressed.

He pointed out that these naval assets are also very useful in maintaining regional security and ensuring that there is peace and stability in the region.

The PN chief earlier said that the AW-109s will greatly extend the patrolling and monitoring capabilities of the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates in service.

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Philippine Army boosts firepower with new 81-mm Serbian-made mortar

The Philippine Army (PA) fire support capability has gotten a significant boost with the arrival and deployment of the new 81-mm Serbian made mortar which was put into display during the AFP's Thanksgiving Day Thursday.

Capt. Anthony Bacus, Army spokesperson, said their newest mortar has a bore length of 1455 mm and weighs 47.1kilograms. When fitted with its beechring, the weapon has a weight of 16.6 kilograms. It also has a bipod weight of 13.5 kilograms.

Around 100 units are now in service with various PA units.

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2013 a challenging year for the military—AFP chief

It was a tough year for soldiers and it is time of the year that they get recognized.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista described 2013 as a “challenging” year for the military.

The year 2013 saw many big challenges in the armed forces—from the Sabah crisis, kidnapping of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights, disaster response during calamities and the Zamboanga crisis.

“We have gone through a lot,” Bautista told reporters on Thursday.

It was a year that the military battled for three weeks in an urban setting. It was also the year where the strongest storm to hit land, super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), battered the country.

A huge number of soldiers were recognized this year and awarding ceremonies were held in various military camps. About 2,000 soldiers were deployed to battle forces of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City last September.

A bigger awarding ceremony was held on Thursday at the AFP Thanksgiving Day at Camp Aguinaldo where 140 military personnel were awarded—most were from the Zamboanga crisis.

A second batch of the awarding ceremony with President Benigno Aquino III expected to attend will be held on Friday at the AFP’s 78th anniversary. Talks at Camp Aguinaldo say that the prestigious Medal of Valor, the highest award for combat, will be awarded to one military personnel.

“Soldiery is one of the noblest and honorable professions. For, indeed, the test of nobility and honor can be best measured by one’s willingness to offer the supreme sacrifice of his life for his country and people,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on his speech at the AFP Thanksgiving Day.

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2013 AFP Anniversary Display of Air and Naval Assets

Photos courtesy from Francis Neri

AFP commissions 3 brand-new naval choppers

The military’s territorial defense and disaster response capabilities got an added boost on Thursday with the commissioning of three brand-new naval helicopters.

The commissioning, which allowed the Navy to deploy the helicopters to mission areas, was held in Camp Aguinaldo as part of the celebration of the Armed Forces’ 78th anniversary.

The helicopters constitute the first batch of naval helicopters to be delivered by the supplier, Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland.

The Navy is acquiring a total five AW 109 Power helicopters from AgustaWestland for P1.35-billion. The two remaining helicopters are expected to be delivered next year.

They are expected to accompany the frigates BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz in patrolling the country’s territorial waters.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin led the commissioning of the three naval helicopters, which are expected to be deployed to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

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DND Sec. Voltaire Gazmin commissions new AugustaWesland AW109 helicopters

DND Sec. Voltaire Gazmin commissions new AugustaWesland AW109 helicopters with tail number PNH-431 as part of the Naval Air Group.

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Philippine Navy Air Group gets much-needed boost with the arrival of 3 AW-109s

The Philippine Navy said the number of flyable assets of its Naval Air Group (NAG) is getting a much-needed boost with the commissioning of the three AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters on Thursday.

The Navy's AW-109s arrived at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City at around 1:25 p.m. Wednesday after a short flight from Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite.

The newly-acquired air assets were flown to Camp Aguinaldo in preparation for their commissioning ceremonies Thursday morning.

Prior to this, the NAG only operates one Robinson R-22 helicopter, Blohm B0-150 helicopter, two Islander aircraft and four Cessna light utility planes.

With the arrival of the three AW-109s, the number of flyable assets of the NAG has increased to 11.

NAG pilots, who were trained to fly the AW-109s in Cesto Calende, Italy, said the AgustaWestland aircraft is very much suited for a rotary wing machine.

They added that the AW-109s is very maneuverable and very ideal for shipboard deployment.

The AW-109s will be deployed to increase the range, surveillance and detection capability of the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates in Philippine service.

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Philippine Army to get more bigger, powerful guns -- DND

In a bid to further improve the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Philippine Army, the Department of National Defense has announced that it is acquiring more potent weaponry for the service in the coming months.

One of these weapons is a shore-based missile system worth P6.5 billion that could include 12 launchers, trailers and tracking systems and missiles that could be fired to hit ground and naval targets.

Patrick Velez, DND vice chair for the bids and awards committee, said once acquired, the weaponry will be placed under the control and supervision of the Army.

The acquisition of the shore-based missiles will be carried out through “limited source bidding."

Velez defines limited source bidding as a process where certain companies are invited to submit bids for a project.No other details were given for security reasons.

Another weapon system in the process of acquisition for the Army are 12 units of towed 155mm howitzers for P438,620,000. This includes 240 rounds of 155mm HE (high explosive) and integrated logistic support.

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US renews commitment to Philippine security amid tensions in Asia

The United States renews its commitment to the security of the Philippines and the Asian region with the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry in the country.

Kerry arrived in the Philippines Tuesday morning and met President Benigno S. Aquino III later in the day.

In a joint press conference after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Kerry said the US is committed to address the most pressing Philippine security challenge.

This is the reason why the US and the Philippines are negotiating for a strong and enduring framework agreement that would enhance defense cooperation between the two countries including increased rotational presence of US forces in the Philippines, he said.

Part of this initiative is the commitment of the United States of $ 40 million to improve the country's capability for maritime security and maritime domain awareness, according to Kerry.

The US government is also working to reduce tension in the territories with maritime disputes in Asia.

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Filipino peacekeepers get United Nations Service Medal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) formally awarded the United Nations Service Medal to the 332-strong 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights Wednesday.

The latter were warmly congratulated and feted by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista for accomplishing their mission despite constant threats on their safety.

The 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights was headed by Lt. Col. Nolie L. Anquillano.

The Filipino troopers completed their one-year deployment despite receiving worldwide attention with two incidents of being held in captivity by Syrian rebels in March and in May this year.

Despite being released safely on both occasions, questions on their immediate pull-out were raised.

The Philippine government continued the all-Philippine Army contingent’s deployment after the UN agreed to bolster the safety of the UN peacekeeping force.

Meanwhile, the 115-strong 17th Philippine Contingent to Liberia (PCL), which was deployed in July last year, completed their mission of assisting in the maintenance of law and order in the country following a ceasefire that ended the Second Liberian Civil War.

The all-Philippine Air Force contingent was led by its contingent commander, Col. Fidel Igmedio T. Cruz Jr.

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Philippine Army: One of the first responders in 'Yolanda' disaster

Aside from its usual national security role, the Philippine Army was among the first responders or agencies that gave prompt assistance to the people of Tacloban City, Leyte and other parts of the Visayas who were severely affected by the onslaught of super typhoon "Yolanda" last Nov. 8.

According to Capt. Anthony Bacus, Army spokesperson, the PA deployed 155 military vehicles and 4,000 soldiers to render humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts in Tacloban and other typhoon-affected areas.

He said that major units coming from the 10th and 4th Infantry Divisions based in Mindanao sent battalions of carpenter-soldiers to help rebuild schools, hospitals and other government buildings severely damaged by the super typhoon.

Bacus added that water search and rescue (WASAR)– capable and collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR)– capable teams from the 525th Engineering Battalion were also deployed to Tacloban.

Troopers from the 48th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division; 80th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division and the 1st Special Forces Battalion were also sent as augmentation forces.

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US Boosts Support for Philippines Security Forces

The United States will provide the Philippines' security forces with $40 million in new assistance in part to help the country protect its territorial waters amid rising tensions with Chinaover disputes in the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday while urging all the nations involved to "lower the intensity."

The money, from a U.S. program known as the Global Security Contingency Fund, will be spent over three years and will be split between improving the Philippines Coast Guard's maritime security abilities and boosting counterterrorism capacity for the Philippines National Police in the nation's restive southern islands, where Washington has also backed a decade-long campaign against al-Qaida-linked local militants.

The new aid is intended to complement a $32.5 million assistance package, which Kerry announced Monday in Vietnam, that will help southeast Asian nations protect their territorial waters. Up to $18 million of that money will go to provide the Vietnamese Coast Guard with five new fast patrol boats.

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2 soldiers hurt in land mine blast in North Cotabato

Two soldiers were wounded when a land mine exploded while a platoon of soldiers patrolled a village in the hinterlands of Arakan in North Cotabato, the military reported on Monday.

Lt. Nasrullah Sema, 57th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, identified the wounded soldiers as Pfc. Oliver Magbanua and Cpl. Abdullah Camsa.

“They suffered minor wounds. They are now safe,” Sema said.

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Nur forces massing in Cotabato

THE Philippine Army units is keeping an eye on about 200 Moro National Liberation Front fighters who were massing at a village of Midsayap, Cotabato on Monday.

The group was spotted gathering at the remote village as factions within the MNLF sought to replace its founding chairman Nur Misuari as the sole representative of the Bangsamoro people in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Aquino administration said it would prefer a leader of the Moro National Liberation Front who can “push forward the peace agenda” amid efforts from within the MNLF to replace its founding chairman, Nur Misuari, as the sole representative of the Bangsamoro people in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

“We would like to work with people who can push forward the peace agenda and the reform agenda of the MNLF,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said as he bared that the Aquino administration would prefer a leader of the MNLF who could “push forward the peace agenda.”

Lacierda made the remark at a Palace briefing a day after the OIC rebuked Misuari for masterminding a three-week hostage siege in Zamboanga City last September.

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Philippine Navy modernization going at a good clip

With the arrival of its Hamilton-class cutter, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) and three of the five AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters, and signing and bidding of major ship contracts, the modernization of the Philippine Navy (PN), the force mandated to protect the country's vast maritime domains, is going on a good clip.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said they are very excited with the way things are going for the PN which for decades has sadly lagged behind its other Southeast Asian counterparts.

But with the arrival of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz last Aug. 6, after a two-month voyage from the United States, and commissioning last Nov. 22 and delivery of the three AW-109s last Dec. 8, Fabic said that the maritime domain awareness capability of the PN was greatly boosted.

Contract for the naval helicopters were signed last Dec. 20, 2012.

The arrival of these assets also ensures that BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15), the country's first Hamilton-class cutter, will no longer have to do maritime sovereignty patrols in the West Philippines on her own.

The ability of the PN to protect the country's vast waters will be greatly increased once the combat versions of the AW-109s, the last two of the five ordered for P1.33 billion for AgustaWestland, arrives in the third quarter of 2014.

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