Coast Guard to post sketches of Abu bombers in ports

Posted 04:03pm (Mla time) Mar 22, 2005
By Leila Salaverria
Inquirer News Service




TO ENLIST the public's help in the fight against terrorism, the Philippine Coast Guard will post artist's sketches of suspected Abu Sayyaf bombers at port areas in the country.

PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan said the PCG was coordinating with the Philippine National Police for copies of the sketches of the bombers who would allegedly strike in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country.

So far, the PNP has identified nine suspected bombers allegedly out to sow terror. The latest two suspected bombers they identified were said to be capable of arming and detonating car bombs.

Gosingan said he wanted the sketches posted in public places and aboard ships so that passengers and personnel at port areas could alert authorities if they any of them were spotted.


=====================================================


Some reports indicated that the ASG are undergoing scuba diving trainings.

They can sink ships docked in ports.

The SWAGS are the best prepared to handle this threat.

But what if they arent around?

Can we rely on our Coast Guard men? :dunno:

This is a disturbing scenario, the authorities should not let their guard down .

There are only a few SWAG operators, every one of us should be vigilant.

In relation to 9-11 and the USS Cole, the tanker Limburg and other probable worst case scenarios, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) of which the Philippines is a signatory has implemented last July 2004 the ISPS Code better known as the InternationalShip and Port Facilities Security Code.

http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?...583&doc_id=2689
http://fleet.inmarsat.com/F77_security.htm

Here, the Ship Owners (Company), the Ship (Crewmembers) and the Port Facilities Authorities work hand in hand in securing ships of their responsibilities. Company's make their own security plans to be adopted by Ships personnel in any eventualities which is to be approved by I think the Flag State of which the Ship is registered. They also provide for the equipments to be needed such as cameras, sonars, electric fences, AIS GPS, etc. Ship's personnel on their part implement the policies on board, checks their ships and its surroundings while in port and at sea. Crew (seaman) are required to undergo trainings with officers assigned as Ship's Security Officers making observations and reports to the Company assigned Security Officer. Port Facilities has their own Security Officers providing Ships of any information and alert levels (1, 2, 3).

Other countries, like the U.S. in addition to the ISPS at times makes their own security measures like notices of Ships about 24 hours or more prior to their arrival. Countries not implementing the code creates problems for ships coming from their area as this means more scrutiny from the Port Facilities and sometimes refused entry to the ports as you could see in some news of vessels being held.

As for the Philippines, the Maritime Sector has been pushing for its implementation prior to July 2004. Maybe due to shortage of personnel and means, the Super Ferry incident was a wake-up call. You could now see in the news of illegal arms and weapons being confiscated because of this code. But recent surveys, it is yet to be implemented in other ports of the country.

With the JI and piracy getting strong in the SEA seas, the U.S. has offered to patrol the area with Singapore endorsing it being a shipping hub. Other ASEAN nations refused as they said they could handle the joint patrol. I believe the anti-piracy network is based in Malaysia. But lately another tug was attacked and a Filipino is 1 of those missing. (latest they were returned to authorities)

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2CA...BED9D6A0ADE.htm

But like always, it's terrorism. Let's expect for the worst and hope for the best!

_________________
"In the interest of National Defense..."

Very informative post saver, thank you.

Has anyone given thought to the possibility of tausug boat people that meet passenger ships during docking that maybe some terrorist will pretend to go near the ships beg for money but then his banca is laden with bombs?

It's not impossible.

They can even get their bomb-laden boat near a docked passenger ship at night, and just detonate it with a cellphone after they have abandoned the boat.

The question is HOW PREPARED THE COAST GUARD IS IN HANDLING THIS.

the coasties are certainly trying :thumb:

:thumb:

Hey! So, how about those who will try to go below the surface?

Are these guys scuba divers as well?

Are they trained to fight in situations like that?

Frogmen risk all to save lives

Updated 11:49pm (Mla time) Oct 16, 2004
By Leila Salaverria
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A21 of the October 17, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


THESE men brave the dangers lurking in the deep, and often stare death in the eye.

They work in conditions of extreme heat and freezing cold, unmindful of stinging salt water, and even the stink of sewers.

They will plunge into the waters without hesitation to save lives.

They are the Philippine Coast Guard's frontliners -- the everyday heroes of the Special Operations Group (SOG) who lead search and rescue and retrieval missions involving tragic water accidents in the country.

Master Chief Mauro Angeles, 53, leads this elite group of specialists, also called frogmen, that is the PCG's equivalent of the Navy's Special Warfare Group.

Behind the scenes

Since 1992, Angeles has been quietly working behind the scenes of every sea tragedy in the country, searching for and rescuing survivors, retrieving bodies, luggage and other items that could provide clues for subsequent investigations, or serve as mementos to relatives and survivors.

It is not an easy task, and definitely not for the weak.

But even if he has retrieved countless bodies from sunken or burning ships, downed airplanes or crammed sewers, Angeles confessed that he was still touched by each new experience.

"Even if the person you save is not your relative, you are always affected," he told the Inquirer. "That is why you need to be strong, not only physically, but you should be able to get a hold of your emotions as well."

Angeles recalled that he shed tears when he retrieved an 8-year-old boy from the wreck of the Laoag International Airlines plane that crashed into Manila Bay in November 2002, killing 19 persons.

A kick of hope

He performed CPR (cardiopulmunary resuscitation) on the boy in the hope of reviving him, and his legs would kick every time his chest was pumped and air was breathed into him, giving hope to the rescuer.

"I thought I would be able to revive the boy," he said after unsuccessful efforts to pump air into the frail body. When he realized the boy was gone, the tears fell. But he had to wipe them away soon, because there was a job that had to be done.

Of all the missions Angeles worked on, he said the most memorable was that of SuperFerry 14 early this year.

One hundred eleven persons are still unaccounted for after a terrorist bomb caused the ship to burn on Feb. 27.

Man's mortality

During retrieval operations, with a sea of burned and decomposing bodies before him, Angeles said he was reminded of man's mortality.

"Every time I remember that rescue mission, I realize that no matter how rich or how brilliant you are, in the end, you are nothing if a tragedy like that strikes you," he said.

But the SuperFerry 14 incident was also memorable in other ways. The physical hardships that the SOG teams had to endure during the retrieval of the bodies were unparalleled, he said.

After the 10,000-ton ship caught fire while on its way to Bacolod, it was towed to Mariveles, Bataan, where it rested on its side.

Because of the ship's position, the SOG men who entered the ship had to work in surroundings skewed at a 90-degree angle.

The deck where most of the bodies were located was six stories below them, and the SOG team had to rappel down the entire length with nothing underneath to catch them but twisted slabs of metal and charred furniture.

Recovered bodies

When a body was retrieved, the divers had to take extra care to strap the remains in stretchers or to place these in body bags as they were hoisted to the surface.

"We took care of the bodies and made sure these were not manhandled because they deserved nothing less," Angeles said.

And because the fire inside the ship took a long time to die, the SOG teams who entered the vessel had to contend with fumes, heat and ashes that filtered through their gas masks.

It was difficult and dangerous work. In fact, members of the Special Board of Marine Inquiry who were investigating the fire and who had visited the ship took note of the teams having been exposed to precarious working conditions.

Angeles said the work was hard, but they were armed with a little extra weapon: prayer.

"When we finished our work and all of us were safe, I thought, ang lakas ko kay Lord (the Lord watches over me)!" he said.

Given the kind of situations the SOG operatives work in, it is but natural that they possess skill, strength, extraordinary stamina and the right attitude.

Being accepted into the SOG is not easy, and the group is not called elite for no reason.

Surprisingly, Angeles said, knowing how to swim is not a major requirement. It can be learned.

Determination, discipline and the right attitude are what's important, he added.

Only males not older than 26 years old and not shorter than 5'4" are accepted for training. They must also be college graduates and should be physically fit.

But that is just the beginning. The demanding training program calls for jogging at high noon, swimming in cold waters, and learning to function and adapt to all kinds of weather and environment. They are also trained in explosives and ordnance handling, handy equipment in the light of terrorist threats.

They must be alert and be able to respond any time, 24 hours a day.

"We can't tell the ship captains or airplanes not to sink or crash at odd hours, which is why we have to be always prepared," Angeles said.

And sea-related accidents are not uncommon in an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands, all under the PCG's care.

Three days of 'hell'

Among the tests trainees have to go through is three "hell days" during which they must not drop off to sleep while doing numerous physical challenges, and a three-mile swim that they must finish in three hours or less.

Physical fitness is paramount in SOG work, but knowledge in safety measures is important as well. All divers must faithfully follow the buddy-buddy system, for one, and observe the 12-hour rest between dives.

The hazards of diving, on the other hand, include hearing loss and diving sickness, which cause paralysis or erectile dysfunction. Divers must also learn to contend with the smell of decomposing bodies, which clings to the skin.

Asked if divers could still develop an appetite after hours of seeing and handling rotting bodies, Angeles said they had no choice but to eat to regain their strength.

Divers usually eat without utensils when at a dive site, but he said this is okay since they wear gloves while working.

SOG trainees also have a "hell blast," where they are allowed to get drunk. The reason for this, said Angeles, is to get to know a trainee's real character, which surfaces when he is under the influence of liquor.

The SOG chief said those who love fights or become very troublesome when drunk were usually placed under observation to see if their attitude would improve or not worsen while working.

There are currently only 174 SOG operatives among the 3,500-strong PCG force, but they are frontliners, said PCG spokesperson Lt. Armand Balilo.

"When people think of the Coast Guard, they think of the divers," Balilo said. "It's a good thing they are everyday heroes."


With the PCG having just detached from the PN, they are still short of manpower and resources. With the implementation of the ISPS Code, hopefully this will encourage those in the maritime industry to be more vigilant.

Terrorism comes in many forms. Malaysia, with it's fast vessels nalusutan ng ASG. The U.S. with it's satelliites and hi-tech equipments, 9-11 happened. Remember, the WTC was attacked the 2nd time.

As I said earlier, expect for the worst, be prepared for it and let's hope for the best.

That's good to know. :thumb: :thumb:

The PCG must understand that it must make sure that all ports are protected and that these SOG are available anytime.

One thing concerns us though.

How do they detect terrorists who are underwater? Were these SOG men trained to fight underwater as well?

Can they act soon enough just before these teros can attach the bomb onto a ship's hull?

maybe if we could pass the Anti-terror bill, we could make other special laws like in the U.S. creating restricted zones sa mga ports natin. As you could see our Ports sa South and North Harbour there are many unauthorized vessels, boats, out-riggers ng mga fishermens at iba pa. This is just when the ships are at ports and anchorage. How about when its on the way? See the Limburg case, the Tamils of Sri Lanka and gunmen off Somalia?

Pero sa dami ng mga human rights advocates minsan nabubulagan sila sa greater good. Safety of passengers ang pinag-uusapan they would tackle livelihood ng mga small fishermen natin within the area.

You indeed have a good point there.

Between the two sides, safety and livelihood, the govt should give more to the concern on safety.

Why?

Because putting the ships in danger and those who work for these and those who patronize their service, will only ruin a MUCH BIGGER set of livelihood.

For these fisherman, what livelihood can they get from venturing near piers or ports anyway?

Are we going to let them put the safety of the ship's passengers in great danger JUST TO LET THEM BEG the passengers FOR SOME COINS?

Or shall we direct them to fish some place else which is really good for catching more fish while ensuring the safety of the passengers and the ship's workers?

Human rights concerns and the safety of the general public must be balanced here.

Basilan Ship blast traced to lapses in port security

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) received heavy flaks from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other government agencies for the bomb explosion inside the M/V Doña Ramona eraly Sunday that resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to 29 others.

Zamboanga City PCG Station Comannder LCDR Ronnie Gavan said in an exclusive interview that the PPA and MARINA "lacks personnel and facilities to secure ports" including Lamitan and Isabela towns, "this is why criminals, including terrorists, were able to sneak into the ports and the ships".

"While we have sea marshals, the scope of their responsibilty begins only from the time of actual ship departure from the point of origin up to the time of actual docking at the point of destination, and not at the time when the ship is dockled", said Gavan.

PPA and MARINA personnel were reported "lacking" with the required training for port and ship security. Port modernization program is good, but paramount in port and ship security," according to Gavan.

"The incident that happened in Lamitan last Sunday could happen again in Isabela town, and possibly in other ports, if PPA and MARINA would not move on time," he said.

"Daig ng maagap and masipag," Gavan said, stressing that he was telling the "true state" of ports ans ships' security in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

Asked about the role of the Coast Guard in the safety of ports and passengers, he said: "This (safety of ports and passengers of vessels), which was a major concern of Coast Guard in coordination with soldiers and police, was already removed from PCG and transferred to PPA and the MArina. It is, at present, the concerns of PPA and MARINA to secure ports and ships, and they are mandated to manage other maritime affairs".

"What is left to the Coast Guard now as primary functions are the protection of marine life and environment, search and rescue of vessels during collision, conflagrations like typhoons and fire, and maintenance of lighthouses,"[B]he said.

- By Yul Malicse
Manila Bulletin, 07 Sep 2005

------
I think it's about time the DOTC should act on this matter especially since all these agencies falls under his turf. Being ex-PNP chief, security on Ports and Ships should be given priority with these terrorist threats.

What can you say about this, saver?

Now that MARINA has the responsibility to secure ports and ships, and they are mandated to manage other maritime affairs, while...

... the PCG's primary functions are the protection of marine life and environment, search and rescue, and maintenance of lighthouses aside from deploying Sea Marshals,...

... do we just need to allow MARINA to employ more men to handle port security or give that task back to the PCG?

Which is better?

A Philippine Coast Guard sniper on board a helicopter keeps watch as they assault their target during an anti-terrorism drill on a ship in Manila Bay on Sunday Oct. 16, 2005. The Philippine government has launched a campaign to instill public vigilance and prod Congress to pass an anti-terrorism law amid continuing terrorist threats and presence of Jemaah Islamiyah militants, who have been blamed for suicide bombings that killed 3 bombers and 20 other people in Indonesia's Bali resort recently. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

[IMG]
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/...rill_mla101.jpg[/IMG]

Philippine Coast Guard men prepare to assault their target during an anti-terrorism drill on a ship in Manila Bay Sunday, Oct. 16, 2005. The Philippine government has launched a campaign to instill public vigilance and prod Congress to pass an anti-terrorism law amid continuing terrorist threats and presence of Jemaah Islamiyah militants, who have been blamed for suicide bombings that killed three bombers and 20 other people in Indonesia's Bali resort recently. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Is it just me or the helmets just look way too big for the coasties' heads...kind of a new model probably? :armyeek:

:armyeek: Darn, I think you're right boss Dum.

baka naman maliit lang ang ulo nya :thumb:

Those were American standards. If you could see their brochures they have different sizes. Delta type might be much suitable for Pinoys.

When was the coast guard anti-terror unit activated and was it patterned from the US coast guard Maritime Safety and Security Team?

What is the official name of the unit?

This is more serious than the concern on helmet model.

Did they really use "packing tapes" to fix the door of this chooper?

Maybe they need to improvise for the show, a matting perhaps secured by those packing tapes. As you know the PCG has limited helicopters (around 2?). Unlike the U.S. CG, it has its special choppers, the MH-68A "Stingray" Short Range Armed Interdiction Helicopter with snipers onboard packing the Barret Cal. 50. They go in tandem. If you've watched Bad Boys II it was featured there.

Check the chopper on the Deep Water Project:

http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=1125&st=0&#last

At the yahoo images of the Philippine Coast Guard, there were anti-terrorist units, what is the name of the PCG's commandos?

Just like the PN now, they used to call their SWAGs as SOG. Just don't know if they have now a particular unit to handle anti-terrorism.

RP, Japan fight terror at sea
By Nestor Etolle And Edu Punay
The Philippine Star 02/24/2006

A merchant ship being attacked by pirates off Manila Bay sends out a distress call to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Within minutes, a PCG search and rescue (SAR) vessel BRP San Juan races to the site of the attack.

With precision and expertise, members of the PCG Special Operations Group (SOG) rescue the vessel and arrest the attackers, who also yielded illegal drugs.

The scenario was part of the joint maritime law enforcement (MARLEN) exercise jointly conducted yesterday off Manila Bay by coast guard units from the Philippines and Japan. The rescue operation involved the BRP San Juan and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) patrol vessel Mizuho.

The exercise was the culmination of the month-long seminar sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under its five-year human resource development project, according to PCG spokesman LCdr. Joseph Coyme.

Also participating in yesterday’s anti-terrorism exercise were delegates from India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police’s Maritime Group.

This is the third time the Philippines, in partnership with Japan, has hosted an anti-terrorism exercise at sea, designed to enhance operational skills, according to Commodore Wilfredo Tamayo, chief of the PCG’s Operating Forces.

"This is an enhanced cooperation between our country and Japan. We benefit from Japanese resources, while they learn to improve their fight against terrorism," Tamayo said, adding that Japan has now replicated the PCG’s scheme on the deployment of sea marshals on board vessels as first line of defense against terrorists.

Coyme said the Philippines will benefit from these exercises in terms of enhancing the skills and techniques of law enforcers at sea as the country is a maritime nation with a long history of pirate attacks on merchant vessels.


http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200602246303.htm

Man carrying blasting caps arrested in Jolo ferry terminal

JOLO, Philippines (AFP) - A popular ferry terminal in the southern Philippines was placed on high alert Thursday after sniffer dogs found a backpack full of blasting caps, officials said.

A man was taken into custody while maritime police threw a security cordon around the terminal on the southern island of Jolo, mayor Alkramer Izquierdo told reporters.

Police said they detained a young man after he refused to have his backpack searched.

A search of his clothing also found what ''appeared to be a detonation cord'' in one of his pockets, police said.

Reporters at the scene said the Queen Emilia ferry was cleared of passengers and crew and the suspect backpack moved to an empty lot at the Jolo port, where bomb-sniffing dogs confirmed the presence of explosives components

The ferry, which carries about a hundred passengers, makes overnight runs to Jolo from the southern city of Zamboanga, where the suspect had come from.

Police gave no further details. Jolo is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, a militant Islamic group with alleged ties to foreign Muslim cells accused of terrorist attacks.

The Abu Sayyaf was blamed for the firebombing of a ferry on Manila Bay in February 2004 that claimed more than 100 lives.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006081771994.html

In the news flash, the suspect claims he found it in the garbage and didn't know that those were for bomb making.

Strict security check prove its worth. Hope we could at least acquire more sniffing dogs since we could not buy those expensive electronic sniffers.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006081771994.html

Another joint exercise of the PCG, Japanese Coast Guard and JICA held last September 21, 2006.

PCG Special Operations Group.









I also read that the arrival of the 2 Aussie ships involves boarding exercises with SAR 001 participating.

One thing i noticed is that they are too crowded and the boat dont have enough protection.

Special operations troops on rubber boats are safe when the assault is done stealthily. What if the operation is done in daylighT....AND THE TARGETS ARE HEAVILY ARMED AS WELL?

I say a more portected boat should be selected for these spec ops and the boat should be armed with a 30 -cal machinegun at least...like this one.

Well those PCG SOGs happens to be launched from a Mother ship. Remember the Cyclone and the thread about the mother ship concept?



Well, at least they were improving from last year's exercise.

Ok, i see now. But still, in shipboarding and the targets turn out to be heavily armed, these SOGs will be annihilated so easy.

For counter-terrorism and anti-piracy, i believe they should use a better boat and they should be very careful about the capabilities of the targets.

NEVER ASSUME THAT THEIR TARGET IS NOT ARMED AND THAT THEIR BOAT IS UNSINKABLE.

Something to smile about indeed. :thumb:

Well so far our PN SWAG has the same set-up. Maybe when we get more of those RHIBS and boston whalers we could improve. On the meantime for sure the mother ship got those boarding parties covered with big guns and snipers. :armywink:

http://www.navy.mil/list_all.asp?id=23830

BTW, check on SEACAT 2006 and see the different SEA countries conduct their own boarding techniques.

snipers?

hmmm.... if that is so then... it will help the boarding team get more courage.

Nonetheless, if the targets are trained for suicide missions, the sniper may not be able to take out all the hostile targets in time before any of them spray the rubber boat-riding troops with automatic fire. That's still disaster. So, a better boat should be considered for anti-piracy and anti-terrorism manuevers.

As for those RHIBs (Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats) I think what they (U.S.) do now is put some liquified foam inserts that solidifies making the RHIB unsinkable. Same concept with those boston whalers. I'm not sure if the PCG and PN is doing the same with their boats.

Old pics



Filipino and Japanese Coast Guard men hold joint exercises on Manila Bay. AP

SOG latest video updates and anti-terrorrist training:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/10730/Coast-Gu...terrorism-drill

:patrioticpinoy:

Are these PCG SOG, they look kind of...lacking...compared to the PN SOG

courtesy of lancero

Lacking of what? The top photo is a PN SWAG/SOG unit.

he probably means the PNSWAG guys look tougher than the PCG SOG :armysmile:

the coasties are better-dressed than the navy swag who are only wearing balaclavas and shorts while the coasties have helmets and flotation vests :armyLol:

Again...