:thumb: Navy seizes P10.66-M smuggled foodstuff


Some P10.66 million imported foodstuff were seized by operatives of Philippine Navy (PN) after intercepting three motor launches in Tawi-Tawi, Navy officials reported yesterday.

A report relayed to Navy Headquarters by Commodore Rufino Lopez, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, stated that BRP Jose Loor Jr. (PG 390) was conducting maritime patrol when it apprehended M/L Nihar, M/L Souvenir and M/L Asmah for transporting foodstuff without importation documents on November 15, 16 and 17, respectively, in Simandaguit Point, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.


The three motor launches came from Sandakan, Malaysia.


PCG 390, led by its commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Ireneo Dael, together with Naval Special Operation Unit 6 escorted the three motor launches to the Chinese Wharf, Bongao, and turned over to Bucus, Tawi-Tawi for proper disposition. (Jeamma E. Sabate)

source

Good job guys!! :thumb:

got any pix if the ship?

Smuggling denies the govt of needed taxes and it presents an unfair competition against legitimate importers or traders.

The Navy should strengthen this operation.

The military must realize that they should support the govt in earning revenues and do it for our economy.

Why? The more the economy grows, the better the capacity to modernize our military ... and improve the living conditions of our troops.

I believe the coasts in Ilocos need to be guarded as strict as well.

:armywink:



http://www.hueybravo.net/images/Navy/PG.jpg

small but effective, neh? :thumb:

thank God, those Andradas are new. however, the PN is still in its most pathetic and jurassic state and is a laughing stock of other countries. :headbang:

Navy helps kin of Marines slain in Jolo

The PN has released P352,000 as special financial assistance (SFA) to the families of the four Marines who were killed in action during a clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu last week.

Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ernesto De Leon, through the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Maj Gen Renato Miranda, gave P107,000 to Juvie Ellanic, widow os SSG Joevil Ellanic; P88,000 to Manuel Callorina, father of the late SGT Herson Callorina; P78,000 to Ellen Arroz widow of CPL Glenn Arroz and another P78,000 to Venancio Pacheco Sr., father of CPL Venancio Pacheco Jr.

Manila Bulletin 26 Nov 2005
Mindanao Bulletin

A small token for their ultimate sacrifice. To these fallen Marines :salute:

Navy holds anti-terror training
By Julius I. Valmores

THE Philippine Navy and its reserve unit, the 705th Naval Reserve Squadron, based in General Santos City recently upgraded its capabilities and combat preparedness with a weeklong exercises dubbed "Pagsasama '05."

The exercise is aimed at thwarting any possible attacks from terrorist groups.

Commodore Rogelio Calunsag, commander of the Philippine Navy in Eastern Mindanao, said the exercise was designed to enhance its inter-operability and its reserve forces.

"The exercise will also link the maritime industry and the navy in an effort to address security threats prevailing in the area," he said.

Calunsag further said Pagsasama '05 would also test and evaluate the capability of the naval forces in addressing terror attacks like sea jacking, piracy, and other illegal maneuvers in the high seas.

He pointed out that "military readiness" is important in combating terrorism "because we would not know the exact time when the enemy will strike."

Aside from fighting terrorism, Calunsag said, the training exercise also included preventive measure against the bird flu scare "since General Santos is just a few hours away from Indonesia."

Indonesia is one of the several Southeast Asian countries hit by the Asian bird flu disease.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2005/...r.training.html

Vessel caught in Tubbataha Reef released

First posted 00:01am (Mla time) Dec 02, 2005
By Jofelle P. Tesorio
Inquirer News Service

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—By a mere affidavit and without a valid court order, a Philippine Navy Task Force commander released from custody a fishing vessel and the Taiwanese and Filipino crewmembers who were caught fishing inside the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.

Park manager Angelique Morato-Songco said she was surprised about the release, which she only learned from the media on Tuesday morning.

She found out that Naval Forces West (Navforwest) Task Force 41 commander Benjamin Pizar released the crewmen and the vessel on Nov. 25 without her knowledge.

Songco, representing her office, filed cases of violation of the revised penal code for corruption of public officials and violation of Sec. 104 (employment of unlicensed fish workers), Sec. 20 (entering, hunting, gathering wildlife in marine reserve), and Sec. 96 (entering a marine sanctuary) of the Philippine Fisheries Code.

According to Songco, the MV Teresita II, owned by Teresita Lai based in Subic, Zambales, was caught inside the Tubbataha, a Unesco world heritage site, on Nov. 14. Park rangers found about 1.5 tons of pelagic fish.

During the apprehension, the crewmen offered the rangers 12,000 NT dollars (Taiwan) and P11,000. This was more or less P39,000.

When they were brought to Puerto Princesa, the crewmen again offered some money to the Philippine Navy.

In an exclusive interview with Pizar, the task force commander said he was made to believe that the affidavit of undertaking from the owner of the vessel was proof enough to release the vessel.

He said the typewritten affidavit, executed by Lai in Subic on Nov. 25, the day the vessel was released, was shown to him by one staff member of the businesswoman but he was not able to get the name or the contact number.

“I had no time to check if there was a valid court order because it was already late in the afternoon and it was Friday,” he said.

He also feared that if he wouldn’t release the crewmen, who had already posted bail, and the vessel, the owner would sue him.

Songco said Pizar should have informed her of the release because she was the complainant. When she verified if the court issued a release order, Songco said there was indeed none.

“We’re all learning and some of our lessons are very expensive, like this one,” Songco said, adding that she believed that the release was in good faith but she was saddened by the fact that it happened because rangers and apprehending officers are sacrificing, away from their families and in the middle of the ocean, just to guard the Philippine seas.
She is optimistic that Philippine authorities would rearrest the vessel in Subic because they were in effect “deceived” by the owner by presenting a piece of paper.

http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?ind...&story_id=58446

The higher ups should conduct an investigation on this case, "it happened because rangers and apprehending officers are sacrificing, away from their families and in the middle of the ocean, just to guard the Philippine seas" This is not an excuse! they choose this line of work, they very well know whats in store for them. And the other issue is, this a question of ignorance of the law or something else?

:agree:

Else, this will be construed as acceptable to us all. This is dangerous. This will further worsen the cases of corruption.

:exactly:

If they cant do their job, then they should be replaced.

What is at stake here is the credibility of our laws and the effectiveness of our law enforcement.

If we will just allow such reasoning to render our laws inutile then these abuse will be repeated again and again. :nono:

Our country's survival depends of how we protect the same through the enforcement of its laws.

Philippine navy rescues 75 people from sinking ferry

The Phillipine navy has rescued 75 people from a ferry that had been taking water in the Sulu Sea for more than a day.

The ferry was travelling between the island of Jolo to the southern city of Zamboanga when its propellor broke, leaving it drifting.

A patrol ship returning from border exercises with the Malaysian navy towed the ferry to Zamboanga.

link

Thank you, soldiers of the Republuc..

:salute:

P4-M worth of smuggled goods seized

OPERATIVES of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwesmin) intercepted and confiscated more than P4 million worth of smuggled goods aboard a vessel before the New Year's Day, off Tawi-Tawi mainland, military officials reported.

Maj. Gamal Hayudini, public information chief of the Southern Command, said Navy personnel while conducting maritime patrol at vicinity 1.5 nautical miles, Northwest off Simunul Island, intercepted M/L Elena.

According to Hayudini, the vessel, reportedly owned by a certain Hadji Abdurahal of Bongao, yielded assorted foodstuffs from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia without importation documents.

"There were 15 crew, including minor patron, on board the vessel. They were taken to the Bureau of Customs office in Bongao together with the confiscated items for proper disposition," he said.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Navy and the Malaysian Royal Navy conducted a weeklong joint maritime exercise at the International Treaty Limit areas of the Philippines and Malaysia to further enhance efforts in combating terrorism and transnational crimes their respective borders.

source

:thumb:

Good job, NAVY! :thumb: :thumb:

We need to stop these smuggling activities because this is denying the govt of needed funds to spur growth.

This is also killing the opportunity for LEGITIMATE business operators who pay taxes.

I believe the western shores of Luzon have to be guarded this close also.

If we want to give better services to our people and help modernize the AFP, we need to protect our economy and help the govt earn more taxes to enable it to sustain its development programs.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Navy rescues 5 at sea off Tawi-Tawi
By Al Jacinto

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A Philippine patrol boat rescued five crewmembers of a stranded fishing boat off the southern island of Tawi-Tawi, and officials said they are still searching for a Thai ship that ran aground near the Malaysian border.

"Five people were rescued by our patrol boat off Tawi-Tawi over the weekend and there is an ongoing search and rescue operation for a Thai ship, the m/v Thai Traveler that reportedly ran aground somewhere near the Malaysian border also in Tawi-Tawi area," said Major Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman for the Southern Command.

He said the fishing boat named "Raida" was on its way to Sitangkai island from Tawi-Tawi's Bonggao town when it lost power and drifted by huge waves to the open sea early Saturday. He said the crewmen were brought back to Bonggao town.

Hayudini said the navy is also searching for the Thai ship last spotted heading to Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, northeast of Tawi-Tawi where it hit a bed of corals.

There were no other details about the Thai ship or how many crewmembers it has or its cargo, he said.

Last week, a navy boat also rescued five of 12 crewmembers of a fishing boat named "Honey" off Papahag island near Tawi-Tawi after their vessel was battered by heavy rains and big waves. The seven others were found alive on the island of Simunul just several miles from Papahayag. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)


(February 14, 2006 issue)

LINK HERE

Navy rescues 28 Thai sailors

The Philippine Star 02/17/2006

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) rescued 28 Thai sailors stranded for 12 days after their cargo ship, loaded with fertilizer, ran aground near Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, known as Mapun Island.

The boat master and the crew of M/V Thor Traveller requested immediate assistance from the NFWM after they spotted a wooden boat with 10 persons on board whom they initially suspected as pirates.

The M/V Thor Traveller, a cargo boat that left its port of origin in Thailand last Feb. 2, was on its way to Lahad Datu, Malaysia when it encountered an accident, NFWM acting commander Capt. Raul Barcillo said.

The NFWM immediately conducted a search operation and spotted the distressed boat 30 nautical miles southeast off Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi.

Naval Task Force 62 directed patrol boat P520 to conduct rescue operations. However, bad weather hampered the operation.

The rescue mission of the ill-fated cargo boat yielded positive result after 10 days of search that went as far as the international treaty limits off Fearless Shoal down to Malugi patches. — Roel Pareño


http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200602179906.htm

New communication equipment for the PN:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive...6/04/c2094.html

:fire: :patrioticpinoy:

Let the JCPV phase 3 project begin.

may i ask the ffg question:

what naval units assigned to this southernmost area? how many vessels and what kind are assigned within these units? does it has air assets? attached units?

NICE JOB NAVY MEN! I SALUTE YOU! :salute:

you make one hell of a job in securing our southern shores...

Have you heard about the shootnig incident in which kills some chineese nationals in Spratley island. This are the claims of the Chineese news paper that PN is involve in that incident in which lead to a death of chineese fishermens.

try here:

http://z3.invisionfree.com/Defense_Philipp...topic=866&st=30

there is another post for this topic (general military post, i think, were it is being discussed...

:btt: again my questions po:

what naval units assigned to this southernmost area? how many vessels and what kind are assigned within these units? does it has air assets? attached units?

:fire:

Ma Ling. . . . meron pa ba? hihihih

My Squadmate... dadaan ako sa iyo... ma ing ha. hehehe

:sniper:

Navy rescues 50 fishing boat crew in Tawi-Tawi
By Roel Pareño
The Philippine Star 01/02/2007

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Navy rescued 50 crewmen of two Manila-based fishing boats who were held hostage by gunmen off the coast of Tawi-Tawi, a naval official said here yesterday.

Commodore Geronimo Defensor, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NAVFORWM) said the victims, crewmen of the F/B Queen Bee Star and the F/B Paul Gerard III, were held by the gunmen off Kang Tipayan Dakula Island, near the Tawi-Tawi mainland Saturday.

The victims and their fishing boats, which are owned and operated by the Irma Fishing and Trading Inc. in Navotas, Manila, were dropping anchor when they were seized.

"Nobody was harmed and no money was paid to the armed men," Irma Fishing and Trading Inc. assistant manager Fermin Soto told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Soto said the Navy sent two gunboats, the PG384 and the PS38, to the aid of the beleaguered fishermen.

Defensor said that after the Irma Fishing and Trading Inc. reported the incident, two patrol boats from Bato-Bato, Tawi-Tawi and one from Jolo, Sulu were immediately dispatched Sunday morning to conduct search and rescue operations.

"While our patrol ships were approaching the suspected area where the victims were held, the gunmen immediately fled and abandoned the fishermen and the fishing boats about 3 p.m Sunday," Defensor said.

Soto said the gunmen seemed to have been on a drinking spree when the Navy gunboats arrived and the surprised gunmen scampered in all directions to evade arrest.

"The fishing crew were left unharmed and their equipment and personal belongings that were initially taken from them" were left by the hostage-takers, Defensor said.

"The armed men guarding the seized boats disembarked at 5:30 p.m. and went to the nearby island, maybe to celebrate the New Year," Soto said. He added that the gunmen were relaxed in the knowledge that the fishing vessels and their crew seemed incommunicado after they cut the vessels’ communication lines.

"Unknown to them, we have this secret gadget that one of our men used in communicating with our base here in Navotas," he said.

Defensor said initial reports showed that the gunmen led by a certain Siccar Bassal claimed to be members of the Regional Ports Management Authority (RPMA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and had demanded a P500,000 "anchorage fee" from Irma Fishing and Trading Inc. before cutting the fishing boats’ visible communication lines.

"The demand fee was illegal and those who are exacting the charges appeared to be bunch of extortionists," Defensor said.

He said the fishing boats and their crews were escorted back to the fishing grounds of Tawi-Tawi and are expected to steam back to Manila anytime within the week. — With Pete Laude


http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200701020408.htm

"Unknown to them, we have this secret gadget that one of our men used in communicating with our base here in Navotas,"

Looks like the Company's security policy is in placed in accordance with the ISPS Code. :thumb:

Great . . . now the pirates know.

Great as a deterrence.

Pirates will think twice attacking ships as what the ISPS Code has invisioned it to be. Now Ship Owners and Companies will be encourage to comply with the Code.

or Great, now that the Pirates knew it

The ISPS Code has been implemented since July 1, 2004. Just like the fight against terror you simply just don't stop improving ways to prevent them. Remember 9-11, terrorists struck the mightiest country in the world and failed to stop the incident.

http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=1638

goodness! can these PN people be a little bit careful when disclosing things to the media? :nono: :headbang:

Looks like there's more about this fishy story...

Piracy or hulidap?

I more concerned on the activities of the RPMA team and the Chinese poachers.

The govt and the Navy should do something about this.

Dirty money is again creeping into the breed.

i wonder where are those seized smuggled good now????

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200703200404.htm

Navy seizes 3 Chinese boats

The Philippine Star 03/20/2007

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Navy intercepted three Chinese fishing boats last Saturday and held 45 Chinese crewmen for questioning after they were caught in Philippine waters near Basilan.

Rear Adm. Emilio Marayag, Naval Forces Western Mindanao combined commander, said the Chinese-registered fishing boats were intercepted while steaming through the channel between Basilan and Sta. Cruz Island off Zamboanga City Saturday afternoon.

"Our alerted naval unit spotted and immediately intercepted them because they were not in international waters," he said.

Marayag said the three fishing boats were escorted to the nearby Navy pier in Lower Calarian in Zamboanga City.

The Bureau of Fishery, Bureau of Immigration and the Regional Committee on Illegal Entrants are investigating the crewmen, he added.

Under initial interrogation, the Chinese claimed that they were fishing in Indonesia and were on their way back to China when their fishing boats ran out of fuel and they had to pass by the southern part of Philippines to fill up their tanks.

However, Marayag said the Navy suspects that the Chinese were buying fish in Indonesia.

Only two of the three fishing boats were loaded with a few fish, he added. —Roel Pareño

hmmm those fisherman smells fishy. ang layo naman narating nun.

could be spies

Or could have downloaded an arms shipment for the NPA. It would be more threatening if they were night goggles.

Or it can be a radio interceptor using transceivers trying to catch something out of our airwaves.

They're lucky we're not cruel and we respect human rights. Pueblo, an American Navy ship was dragged from international waters into North Korean territory and crew were tortured. Yun ang talagang one will really grimace in pain.

That's unbelievable. The US let that happen?

Or just borne out of a hearsay?

Tell us more.

PN doesn't want role in polls but would abide to Comelec

A top official of the Philippine Navy on Wednesday said the Navy doesn’t want to play a role in the upcoming May 14 elections but said they would abide by decisions from higher ups if they are ordered to do so.

Interviewed in Cavite City after a disaster response drill, Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino said that if the Navy would have its way, it want to concentrate on its mandated missions and responsibilities.

Tolentino expressed fears that military personnel might again be accused of irregularities in the upcoming elections even if they are just doing jobs assigned to them by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“As far as we (Navy) are concerned, we don’t want election duties so that there will be no issues against the Armed Forces… Even if you are doing your job, that would be linked to election issues (malpractices),” he said.

Tolentino also said that the position is shared by Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. in consonance with the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Department of National Defense with the Comelec in October last year.

The MOA provides that the 120,000-strong military will not be tapped to perform election-related duties in any elections unless in areas where there are serious armed threats (SATs). The SATs are to be determined jointly by the PNP, Comelec and AFP.

The MOA was initiated by then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz to insulate the military establishment from partisan politics.

It can be recalled that a number of military generals were linked to the alleged rigging of 2004 presidential elections.

The Navy, which has administrative control over the Philippine Marines, had transported election paraphernalia in far-flung islands in the previous elections with the presence of Comelec representatives.

Tolentino said the Navy should be let to “concentrate on our job because we have a lot of work to do.” He noted that the Philippine National Police and its Special Action Force (SAF) have a “good training” and are capable of doing the job.

read more

Navy tracking down whereabouts of abducted teachers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Navy on Saturday has sent boats to track down the whereabouts of the three public school teachers who were abducted Friday in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Gunmen seized the three public school teachers —Jocelyn Enriquez, Jocelyn Inion and Noime Manda — at around 3:40 p.m. Friday from Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School in the coastal town of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

“The Navy through the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command had already deployed ships for possible maritime interdiction," said 1Lt. Steffanie Cacho, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer.

The gunmen, who remain unidentified since no one has claimed responsibility over the incident, have forced the teachers to board on a waiting motorized banca that sped to unknown direction.

“We are still investigating to determine who are the suspects," Cacho said.

The troops in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay as well as in nearby areas were alerted in a bid to help establish the location of the victims.

Friday’s incident was the second kidnapping involving teachers that took place this year in Western Mindanao.

Three teachers were seized last January 23 off shore Zamboanga City and the victims were brought to the nearby province of Basilan.

more..

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/04/2009 2:29 PM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/...nduanes-missing

A Philippine Navy rescue team on Thursday morning recovered 19 people, who went missing for two days after sailing off the mainland of Catanduanes province.

Commodore Joel Babas, commander of the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, said their personnel on a Navy gunship recovered the 19 people from Gigmoto town, in the eastern part of Catanduanes island, around 11 a.m.

Babas said gunship BRP Hilario Ruiz was launched after the provincial disaster coordinating council sought the Navy's assistance to locate the missing people.

The 19 people were on board an unmarked motorized boat, which stalled while bound for Rapu Rapu town in Albay province. The boat left Barangay Binanwahan in Bato town, Catanduanes around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Babas said the boat's engine went dead and drifted off the coast of Gigmoto town. With a report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM

Late news . . . but news nonetheless.

===== ~~~ =====