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2009-03-06:
Commemoration of the 50 th Commissioning Anniversary of the Presidential Yacht and its Renaming to B.R.P. Pag-Asa (AT-25) by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Ang Pangulo
(BRP Ang Pangulo) celebrates its Golden Anniversary in the fleet of the
Philippine Navy Friday, 1:30PM in her berthing place at Pier 13 in
South Harbor, Manila. Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, the Flag Officer in
Command, Philippine Navy leads the commemoration of BRP Ang Pangulo’s
50 th Commissioning anniversary on 06 Mar 2009. Her Excellency
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be the Guest of Honor. She will
also lead the 23,000-strong Philippine Navy in the rites renaming the
vessel from the present name BRP Ang Pangulo to BRP Pag-asa.
The
vessel, which is an auxiliary transport of the Philippine Navy, was
built in Japan as part of that country’s war reparations to the
Philippines. At the initiative of President Carlos P. Garcia, the
vessel was designed specifically for use as a presidential yacht by
Filipino naval engineers, and was christened with its original name of R.P.S. Lapu-Lapu and commissioned into the Navy on March 7, 1959 as its flagship, a status it held until December, 1961.
President Diosdado Macapagal in the following year ordered it converted to a naval troop transport, renaming it R.P.S. Roxas
after the fifth President of the Philippines in rites led by Mrs.
Trinidad Roxas. President Macapagal instead used another, older,
presidential yacht, the R.P.S. Santa Maria which he renamed R.P.S. Pag-asa,
the name by which it had been known until the time of President Ramon
Magsaysay until she was later decommissioned by the Philippine Navy in
1993.Meanwhile, R.P.S. Roxas was renamed R.P.S. The President when Ferdinand Marcos became president. He then renamed RPS The President to B.R.P. Ang Pangulo and restored its use as the presidential yacht, a status she has retained in all succeeding presidencies to the present day.
It
is in honor of these earlier periods under Presidents Magsaysay and
Macapagal, and to emphasize its service to the people throughout the
archipelago, that the B.R.P. Ang Pangulo has been renamed B.R.P. Pag-Asa by
President Arroyo. As it has throughout the Arroyo administration and
over its 50 year life, the vessel, operated by Naval Taskforce
“Sealion”, continues at the President’s instruction to carry out relief
and medical missions all over the islands, aid in emergency search and
rescue efforts, perform naval functions, promote tourism, culture and
local products, as well as serve the presidency and the government.
The
renaming of the vessel by the President is meant to reflect the hope it
has often brought with it on its numerous missions around the country,
particularly in times of calamity and natural disaster.
The following is the text of a historical marker to be unveiled by the President during the 50 th anniversary ceremonies:
B.R.P. PAG-ASA (AT-25)
THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT
One
of 15 ocean-going vessels provided by the Government of Japan as part
of war reparations to the Republic of the Philippines during the
administration of President Carlos P. Garcia, what was first called Bow
No. 77 was designed as the Presidential Yacht by Filipino naval
engineers and built at the Ishikawajima Dry-Docks in Tokyo.
Its
keel was laid at the Harume Yard on July 16, 1958 and the vessel was
launched on October 16 of that year. Sea trials were conducted under
Lt. Cmdr. Manuel Mandapat PN, its first commanding officer, on February
9 and 10, 1959. It was designated the flagship of the Philippine Navy
by President Garcia through Executive Order on February 13, 1959, and
delivered to the Philippine Government on February 28. It was
christened R.P.S. Lapu-Lapu (PY-77) and commissioned into the Philippine Navy on March 7. On April 2, the vessel arrived in Manila.
The
first presidential engagement held aboard took place on April 7, 1959,
and the ship’s first mission, a trade and cultural floating exposition
with ports of call in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong
Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, was carried out from April 19 to
June 4, 1959. The vessel has since been extensively used for relief,
emergency search and rescue, patrol, auxiliary transport and command
vessel purposes in addition to performing its duties to the presidency
and the government. Many distinguished persons, including General
Douglas Macarthur on his sentimental journey in 1961, and numerous
heads of state and government, have been aboard as official guests.
Flagship status was revoked b y President Diosdado Macapagal on December 31, 1961, and the vessel was renamed R.P.S. Roxas
(TP-71) on October 9, 1962, the first instance of a naval ship being
named in honor of a Philippine president. It was renamed R.P.S. The President (TP-777) by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on January 11, 1967 and renamed anew as B.R.P. Ang Pangulo
(TP-777) on July 1, 1971. Its hull number was altered to AT-25 by
President Corazon C. Aquino on September 24, 1986. From 1998 to 2000,
extensive refurbishment took place under President Joseph Ejercito
Estrada.
On March 6, 2009, the eve of its 50 th commissioning anniversary, the ship was renamed B.R.P. Pag-Asa
(AT-25) by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in fitting ceremonies
celebrating an outstanding legacy of service to the Republic. |
The
marker was provided by the Office of the President through the
Malacañang Museum, in coordination with the National Historical
Institute.
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2009-01-15: Fleet Marine Ready Force (FMRF) Launched
Atrocities and lawlessness by rouge MILF Groups, communist NPA
insurgents, and terrorist ASG bring to the fore the organization and
launching of Fleet-Marine Ready Force (FMRF) by the Philippine Navy as
its contribution to the AFP’s effort to combat all forms of threats to
national security and development.
 
The FMRF is designed to be the country’s maritime force-in-readiness
capable of rapid deployment anywhere in the country. The impetus for
the organization and launching of FMRF as an operational command is to
fill the need for a primary naval component to a national maneuver
force. It will be a composite unit within the Navy that answers the
need for a rapid response effort to all types of contingencies that
shall fill-in the operational gap of a naval force in the National
Capital Region. Ultimately, FMRF shall be the test bed for a future
Navy that addresses prospective external challenges.
 
Following a Fleet-Marine Team concept of operations, the FMRF shall be
comprised by sailors and marines, SEAL Teams. Civil Disturbance
Management Teams, and Civil Military Operations Teams and a compliment
of patrol ships and gunboats, airplanes, helicopters, and tanks, and
other terrain vehicles. These select men and equipment is organized and
designed to be self-sustaining multi-capable, combined-arms team of
air, land, and sea components readily deployable in support to naval
operating forces or AFP Unified Commands in combating internal security
threats principally and ancillary in the conduct of SAR (Search, Rescue
and Rehabilitation), anti-illegal drug, anti-smuggling, anti-human
trafficking, environment protection, and other non-traditional naval
operations.
 
CAPT JOSE MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ, FMRF’S 1 st Commanding Officer, receives
his first instructions from VADM FERDINAND S GOLEZ AFP, the Flag
Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy who graced the ceremony at 9
o’clock in the morning, 15 January 2009, and gave the orders bringing
to action a token force of sailors, Marines, SEAL and Force Recon
Teams, V300 tank, ships and helicopters assembled for the ceremony at
Commodore Divino Pier aboard Headquarters Philippine Navy at Roxas
Boulevard, Manila.
 
More information about the Fleet-Marine Ready Force is available at http://fmrf.navy.mil.ph |
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2009-01-15: Welcoming The Best in Soldiery
Team Navy welcomes Marine Heroes of Mindanao after eight years of
re-deployment to troubled areas mostly in Southern Philippines, Marine
Battalion Landing Team-8 (MBLT-8) finally reports back to Marine
Barracks Manila, Bonifacio Naval Station, Makati City for a much needed
respite from combat duty, retraining, and refurbishing.
Today, 29 December 2008 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, these Marine
warriors of Basilan will be welcomed by the Navy Flag Officer
In-Command VADM FERDINAND S GOLEZ AFP and Marine Corps Commandant Major
General BEN D DOLORFINO AFP and the entire Team Navy personnel at
Commodore Divino Pier at the Headquarters Philippine Navy in Roxas
Boulevard, Manila. They will lead the ceremonies befitting a hero that
will be accorded to the Marines of MBLT-8 when the bow ramp of BRP
Dagupan City (LC551) that carried them on-board opens for
disembarkation.
Ceremonies will
include awarding of medals to members of MBLT-8 for heroism in combat
during their tour of duty in Mindanao. Most recently, these Marines saw
action in anti-terrorism campaign versus ASG members liable for a spate
of kidnappings in Basilan and rouge elements of MILF that provided them
refuge. Said bandit group suffered heavy losses in terms of personnel
and material that also claimed the lives of 6 Marines during ferocious
skirmishes in Basilan.
MBLT-8 is
under the able leadership of LTCOL ELMER R ESTILLES PN(M)(GSC), the
Battalion Commander and MAJ ADOLFO B ALBALATE PN(M), the Executive
Officer.
MBLT8 is set to conduct
retraining and refurbishing for a minimum period of three months aboard
Headquarters Philippine Marine Corps. They will also be serving as
component of Marine Ready Force stationed in Metro Manila prior
redeployment. Part of the preparation that they will undergo is their
refresher instructions on basic and newly developed doctrines, tactics
in combat and various civic military operations strategies. They will
also be provided with new sets of uniform, particularly the battle
dress attire and other necessary equipment for their next deployment
and operation. This mode and span of time is being given to the
different battalions of the Philippine Marine Corps not only for the
mere improvement of their capability as an individual and as an
operational group but also a means of reuniting the soldiers with their
families and loved ones. This is also an opportune time for them to
have their rest and recreation. The military hierarchy sees the
importance of this moment to rejuvenate the troops and eventually
produce physically and emotionally ready individuals able to combat
terrorism at any given time. |
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2008-11-28: Philippine Navy's Fleet-Marine Team Readiness Assembly
A combined force of men and equipment from the Philippine Marines and
the Philippine Fleet will assemble together at BNS Grandstand of the
Bonifacio Naval Station, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City today, November
28, 2008. The activity is to ensure security preparedness and readiness
to respond to any contingency by the FLEET-MARINE TEAM set at 3pm,
today.
Expected
in the simultaneous inspection is the Ready Force Battalion from the
Philippine Marines being the amphibious strength of the navy, while
companies of Philippine Fleet personnel together with teams of Naval
Special Operations Group. Said contingent is under the operational
control of the Commander Amphibious Task Force 25 (CATF 25) led by
COMMODORE ERIBERTO C SURIA JR. AFP. ATF 25 is designed to be an
open-ended, rapidly deployable, expandable and adaptive quick reaction
task force of the Philippine Navy.
The
marine component that also includes tanks, armored personnel carriers
and other military hardware is led by the Commander of the Philippine
Marine Ready Force BGEN RAMIRO A ALIVIO AFP while the fleet component
is led by CAPT MIGUEL JOSE S RODRIGUEZ PN(GSC) of the Ready Force,
whose surface and air assets are deployed at their respective stations
and ports. As a part of this routine security and response drill is the
assembly at the Philippine Navy Headquarters and other stations of the
Navy.
This activity culminates in a usual Flag retreat to be participated by the unit’s respective personnel at 4:30 pm today.
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2008-11-19: Another Marijuana plantation seized
The Anti narco-terrorism efforts in Sulu Province for almost five (5)
months of the Command is once again proven successful with the raid of
about 2-hectare marijuana plantation located at Sitio Bulas, Patao,
Maimbung, Sulu by the Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 (MBLT4).
On
or about 2:18 PM of November 10, 2008, joint operating team of MBLT-4
and other Marine operatives led by Major Jonathan Gabor, with the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided said plantation.
On
orders from Joint Task Force Comet Major General Juancho Sabban, the
team tactically entered into a marijuana nursery farmland. The team
uprooted more or less 500 marijuana hemps and burned an estimated 2,000
marijuana seedlings supposedly intended for the said vast plantation.
This
is part of the series of raids by the unit in Maimbung and Talipao,
Sulu. The first one was on 22 may 2008, where special operations were
conducted by the Special Operations Platoon 4 of MBLT4 also led by
Major Gabor together with operatives from 3 rd Marine Brigade in a
reported marijuana plantation at Brgy. Patao, Maimbung, Sulu and
discovered the site with approximately two (2) hectares of marijuana
plantation. Approximately fifty thousand (50,000) marijuana plants with
an estimated value of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000.00) were
confiscated and apprehended a certain Akaradja Sali, thirty (30) yrs
old, resident of Laum, Maimbung, Sulu, a suspected marijuana
producer/dealer who was subsequently turned-over to PNP Sulu. The
troops immediately burned an estimated four (4) truck load of marijuana
plants at the plantation site while two (2) truck load (m35 and isuzu
elf) of marijuana plant where brought at MBLT4 for proper disposition
as evidence.
The second successful raid
made by the same unit was on 26 June 2008 and uprooted marijuana plants
in about 1.5 hectares farmland at Brgy. Binuang, Talipao, Sulu. The
uprooted marijuana plants of about two (2) truck loads were estimated
to be worth Two (2) Million Pesos.
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2008-11-15: ASG Hostage Milet Mendoza Released
Humanitarian volunteer hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan was
released on November 14, 2008 at about 10:30pm to Vice Governor
Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, Chair of the Crisis Committee. She was brought
the following day to Headquarters 1st Marine Brigade in Tabiawan,
Isabela City at around 0900H. Later, BGEN. Rustico Guerrero, Commanding
General of the 1st Brigade, led Ms. Mendoza and her group composed of
Esperancita Hupida, Father Calvo and others to the Headquarters, Naval
Forces Western Mindanao in Zamboanga City before 1200H. The party was
met by the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant MGEN Ben Dolorfino.
Along with five other people, including her colleague Esperancita
Hupida, Mendoza was abducted on Sept. 15 near Isabela City in Basilan
by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf.
FILE PHOTO |
AFTER RELEASE |
Milet Mendoza was the Executive Director of Tabang Mindanaw,
Philippines, she isimmensely experienced in coordinating emergency
humanitarian assistance during the El Niño Southern Central Mindanao,
and also during the war between government forces and Moro Islamic
Liberation Front in Mindanao displacing civilian populations in 2000 to
2003. Recently coordinated emergency response for internally displaced
peoples Sulu, Western Mindanao; and the landslides victims in Quezon
Province, Southern Luzon. |
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2008-11-14: NAVSOG Feature Story in UNTV 37
Members of the Naval Special Warfare Group will be featured in the TV
program "SPOTLIGHT" of UNTV Channel 37 on Monday, 17 November 2008 at
1730H. The program features the heroism of Philippine Navy divers in
the search and retrieval operation of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the
Stars.
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2008-11-12: Coast Watch South Station workgroup in Zamboanga
Representatives of key PN staff conducted a hands-on coordinating
conference and preparation in Zamboanga City from 13 November to 15
November 2008.
 
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2008-11-9: Planning of CARAT 2009 started
Eighteen delegates from the United States Navy visited the Philippines
to discuss with Philippine Navy counterparts the initial plans of the
forthcoming CARAT Exercise scheduled on May 20 – 30 2009.
Representatives of both countries agreed to conduct the series of
activities in the Naval Forces Central area of responsibility.
The
American delegation was headed by CDR Mike Snoderly , the CTF 73 Senior
of the US Combined Task Force while the Philippine delegates were
headed by CAPT RONALD JOSEPH MERCADO PN(GSC), the Assistant Chief of
Naval Staff for Education and Training. The Initial Planning Conference
was held at Renaissance Hotel in Makati City on November 6 and 7 2008.
Exercise
CARAT is a bilateral exercise between the navies of the United States
and the Philippines which aims to exchange expertise in different
fields including Naval Surface and Sub-Surface Operations, Mine Warfare
Operations, Naval Gunfire Support, Naval Criminal Investigation
Service, Small Boat Operations & Boat Training, Rules of Engagement
Training, Visit Board Search and Seizure, Data Communications
(Afloat-Ashore) Disaster Mitigation, 76mm Gun Maintenance, Community
Relations/ Public Affairs Training, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
procedures, Salvage Techniques Tactics and Procedures and Intelligence
Surveillance & Reconnaissance.
Navies
including the marines of both countries will engage in various
exercises namely Surface/Air Operations, Marine Operations, Special
Operations, Explosive and Ordnance Disposal, Salvage & Dive, Staff,
Civic-Military Operations, Intelligence/Force Protection,
Communications, Logistics Exercises.
The
Civic-Military Operations covers community relations activities,
Medical, Dental and Engineering Civic Action Program which will be
undertaken by Navy Reservists in cooperation with local government
units and Non-government organizations.
The
last CARAT exercise was held at Palawan area from 15 May to 04 June
2008 and the different community relation activities were conducted at
Puerto Princesa City. | |
