One wounded as 3 bombing attempts, 2 explosions hit Cotabato City

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 19): One wounded as 3 bombing attempts, 2 explosions hit Cotabato City

Two men riding tandem on a motorbike launched a daring grenade-throwing sortie here on Saturday night, targeting police and Army detachments and a patrolling military vehicle that left one civilian wounded, the police said.

The first grenade attack occurred at a police detachment in Barangay Tamontaka 2, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao at past 7 p.m. Nobody was hurt.

Policemen on motorbikes chased the suspects who made good their escape.

Shortly before 8 p.m., the same suspects tossed a hand grenade at a military vehicle of the Army Special Forces Battalion conducting patrol along Sinsuat Ave.

The blast damaged a restaurant’s glass panes and wounded a certain Dalmacio Villa who was rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

An Army truck driver said he noticed a motorbike with two men on board overtook his truck. The back rider hurled a grenade toward the driver side as the Army truck was in motion passing by in front of Aling Precy Restaurant along Sinsuat Ave.

“We were lucky the grenade bumped off the glass window and few seconds later a loud explosions occurred,” he told reporters.

“They immediately sped away. We chased the suspects but traffic along Sinsuat Ave. prevented us from catching up with them,” the Army truck driver, who asked not to be named, added.

He said his companions could not fire at the fleeing suspects as there were many civilians and vehicles along the highway.

The suspects fled toward Notre Dame Ave. where they left behind an improvised explosive device (IED) in front of the Special Forces detachment in Barangay Rosary Heights 2.

Senior Insp. Efren Salazar, Police Station 1 chief, said the IED, fashioned from 60 mm mortar, did not explode. It was safely defused by police bomb experts.

As of posting, police and Army bomb experts are still conducting post-blast investigations.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Military intelligence agents believed the perpetrators could be newly recruit members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on test mission.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=754153

Gov’t troopers recover 3 IEDS after clash with NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 19): Gov’t troopers recover 3 IEDS after clash with NPA

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur – Joint police and Army operatives conducting a security operation recovered three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and about 40 meters of wire from New People’s Army rebels who they encountered at about 2:05 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Pinagsalog, Pilar,Sorsogon.

Capt. Mardjorie Paimela Panesa, public affairs officer of the 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, said the government troopers from the Philippine National Police and the 2nd Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt. Joel Pedregosa were on a security patrol when they chanced upon six NPA rebels.

The two groups engaged in a firefight that lasted only for two minutes as the communist dissidents withdrew towards an unknown direction, leaving behind the IEDs and the wire.

The government security forces are still in hot pursuit operation against the rebel group.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=754279

Territorial defense to be given emphasis on this year's Balikatan

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 19): Territorial defense to be given emphasis on this year's Balikatan

This year's Balikatan will be vastly different as territorial defense will be given focused by participating military forces.

This was stressed by Lt. Col. Marlowe Patria, Philippine Balikatan public information officer, Sunday.

This is to ensure that the country's military forces has the capability to defend itself aside from helping in disaster response and community development.

"(This year's Balikatan) will be quite different as it will be focus on territorial defense aside from disaster response and community development," he added.

Patria also stressed that the decision to include territorial defense is not aimed at any nation particular, adding that the overall goal is to ensure that the AFP will able to enhance its capability to protect the country from any threat.

The annual exercise will take place as China continues to construct facilities in disputed portions of the West Philippine Sea.

Balikatan 2015 will start this April 20 and will be terminated on the 30th.

Aside from boosting the territorial, disaster, and community capabilities of the AFP and participating American and Australian forces, the annual exercise also seeks to improve the interoperability and teamwork of the participating nations.

Patria also attributes the high number of participants, placed at over to 11,740 military personnel, to the fact that the exercises are all scenario driven especially on disaster response as it involves establishment of evacuation centers and transport of affected families there.

This can be broken down into 6,656 personnel from the US, 5,023 from the AFP and 61 from the Australian Defense Forces.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=754221

AFP chief to present Monday aerial photos showing Chinese expansion activities in WPS

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 19): AFP chief to present Monday aerial photos showing Chinese expansion activities in WPS

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang is set to present to media aerial photos Monday showing latest construction and reclamation projects of China in the West Philippine Sea.

"Gen. Catapang is very concerned about China's ongoing activities (hence the decision to make this public)," AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.

He added that Chinese aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea could have adverse economic and military implications aside from causing tensions in the sea lanes.

"And since those sealanes are international, that could affect world trade," Cabunoc stated.

"We want to tell the whole world, not only the Filipino people but the whole world that these issues, particularly the tensions caused by China’s massive reclamation activities have significant impact to all, " the AFP public affairs office chief added.

He added that it is vital that the whole world knows of China's ongoing activities as the AFP does not really know what will happen next once they have totally taken control of the disputed area.

However, Cabunoc clarified that the Philippines does not want the issue to escalate into a military confrontation.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=754241

Philippines braces for bigger war games with US

From Rappler (Apr 20): Philippines braces for bigger war games with US

The war games come as the Philippines seeks more US military and diplomatic support to fend off China's increasing forcefulness



BALIKATAN EXERCISES. US army Lieutenant Robert Johnston looks on while Filipinos fire their rifles during a mock 'assault' scenario as part of the Philippines-US joint military live fire exercises at Fort Magsaysay army training camp in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, north of Manila, Philippines, on May 10, 2014. File photo by Dennis M Sabangan/EPA

The Balikatan participants will help build school buildings and deliver social services to residents of the nearby communities, Coloma said. They will also conduct seminars to train first responders for disasters.

The war games come as the Philippines seeks more US military and diplomatic support to fend off China's increasing forcefulness.

In an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) last week, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the two militaries operating side-by-side should offer a "deterrent aspect to any entity, be it a country or Islamic radicals."

Aquino insisted the Balikatan war games starting on Monday were not directed at China, pointing out they were annual exercises, but he discussed at length the Philippines' reliance on the United States. (READ: Nearly 7,000 US soldiers in games led by West PH Sea commander)

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also said last week the Philippines planned to ask Washington for extra help in containing China.

As China steps up its claim over the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Philippines braces for its expanded war games with the United States on Monday, April 20.

For 10 days, thousands of Filipino and American troops will engage in military exercises to boost their capacity to maintain peace and security.

Compared to past war games, the number of participants has doubled this year.

In an interview with state-run dzRB on Sunday, April 19, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr stressed that this year's Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) war games don't specifically target China.

He pointed out that these have been done annually since 1951 under the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US.

"Kung nagkataon na sa kasalukuyan ay mayroong mga partikular na usapin o hamon, ito ay ginagampanan pa rin bilang bahagi ng layunin na maging mataas ang kahandaan ng dalawang bansa at ganap ‘yung paghahanda para makatugon sa ano mang umiiral na hamon," Coloma explained.

(If by chance, the current situation includes a specific challenge or problem, Balikatan is still done to prepare the two countries to respond to any looming problem.)

Disaster preparedness, too

This year's war games will also feature additional exercises for disaster preparedness and response efforts, Coloma said.

The Filipino and American troops will do these in line with huge natural disasters that hit the Philippines, such as Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013.

"Ang kahandaan sa paglulunsad ng agarang pagtugon sa mga krisis bunsod ng mga kalamidad ay isa ring mahalagang aspeto ng kooperasyon," Coloma said. (Preparing to respond immediately to natural disasters is an important aspect of cooperation.)

http://www.rappler.com/nation/90407-philippines-us-war-games-balikatan-palace

Philippine Coast Guard to receive 10 new vessels

From Rappler (Apr 19): Philippine Coast Guard to receive 10 new vessels

DOTC awards a contract to supply the vessels to a Japanese firm, aided by a loan from the Japanese government

NEW VESSELS SOON. An existing Philippine coast guard vessel on patrol in the Pasig River. File Photo by Jodesz Gavilan/Rappler

 

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded a contract for the construction and delivery of 10 40-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to help improve the protection of the country's seas.

The project, called the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project, was awarded to the Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) last week.

It is being implemented as an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project, via a tied loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The loan covers P7.3 billion out of the total project cost of P 8.8 billion ($199 million.) The remaining P 1.434 billion ($32.4 million) will be coming from the Philippine counterpart.

The staggered delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the third quarter of 2016 up to the third quarter of 2018.

“This project is part of government’s program to equip our forces with necessary assets to protect the national marine interest. These 10 new vessels will help the Coast Guard in its functions of maritime law enforcement, search-and-rescue operations, and upholding maritime security within Philippines seas,” said Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya.

Under the project terms, the MRRVs will be used by the PCG to serve as

Primary rescue vessels within the PCG Districts’ areas of responsibility (AOR) when the extent of the disaster is beyond the capability of other vessels.

Assistance in the control of oil pollution and protection of the marine environment.

Enforcement of maritime laws within the designated AOR, particularly relating to illegal fishing and sea patrol.

Service as platform for rapid response during relief operations.

Transport of personnel and logistical support.

The MRRVs will be deployed to various PCG Districts across the country, including Manila, La Union, and Puerto Princesa.

JMU’s winning bid of P 4.67 billion ($107.5 million) for the vessels includes the supply of standard spare parts and tools, crew training, ocean transportation, and marine insurance.

The vessels will have a standard cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h), and a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 km).

http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/90446-philippine-coast-guard-new-vessels