the mighty philippine navy mosquito fleet... (spotted in gensan)




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3180975946_cc16fce5b4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3180975946_cc16fce5b4_b.jpg

Anong Mighty? Those ships are obsolete world war 2 era ships :nuts::lol:

Anong Mighty? Those ships are obsolete world war 2 era ships :nuts::lol:


perhaps he mean "small like mosquitoes but terribly mighty" :)

This was the talk of some military forums in 2002, may nag post na naman sa PEX. Let's not ridicule our military personnels just because of this photo, pero nakakatawa lang talaga tingnan. :lol:


http://s885.photobucket.com/albums/ac53/mikeykey/heneralnaduwag.jpg

Unfortunetely altho the afp has forces with some conflict experience , it's equipment however is currently hopelessly outdated to defend it's territory let alone challenge any of it's neighbours ... .

However restoration of Phillipine military capability isn't beyond it's reach it would just need to strive harder and more political will to achieve modernisation , until then i do think tht the current focus on ending internal insurgencies is the right one .

The Phillipines should reverse policies regarding foreign bases on the contrary it should entice the Americans back in exchange for rent and military assistance , and perhaps try out the French or other European forces .

The Hanjin shipyards is a good move and the country should focus on attracting more foreign investment in the field , just because these yards are foriegn owned does not exclude the possibility of contracting them to use those yards to build future Phillipine navy vessels .

It should likewise entice aerospace companies to set up shop in the country .

^^I think the Phils had have enough of American bases setting up shop. Phils military is in a sorry state right now but it's being address little by little. Things will change in the next 5-10 years for our military.

Most European hardware top notch I suppose but most are also as expenssive as US hardwares. Chinese would be an economical choice although quality, as most would percieve is questionable...

Philippines arrests militant wanted for bombings, kidnapping
www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-18 11:11:57 Print

MANILA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Government forces have arrested an Islamic militant wanted for deadly bombings and kidnapping in southern Philippines, the military said Friday.

Salam Maja Hassan, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, was arrested Wednesday in a village in southern port city of Zamboanga, said Maj. General Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military chief.

Hassan was wanted for planting bombs in Zamboanga city and participating in the abduction of 20 tourists, including three Americans, in a western Philippine resort in 2001.

Dolorfino said Hassan was arrested for murder, frustrated murder and kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

The 340-member Abu Sayyaf, believed to have ties with al Qaeda network, is blamed for the most deadly terrorist attacks and high-profile kidnappings in the Philippines.

Return to Leyte: 65th Anniversary Commemoration and Veterans Remembrance
Posted to: Local Events Military
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/return-leyte-65th-anniversary-commemoration-and-veterans-remembrance

When General Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines for Australia in March 1942, he promised to return. On October 20, 1944 – some two and a half years later – he finally was able to fulfill this pledge when he waded ashore at Palo Beach, Leyte. With more than 200,000 American ground troops, more than 700 American and Australian ships, and 3,000 American and Filipino guerrillas, the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation began.

The MacArthur Memorial will mark the 65th Anniversary of the Leyte Landings and Liberation of the Philippines on Saturday October 17, 2009, with a day-long program to include presentations by historians and veterans of the Philippine Campaign, a wreath-laying and remembrance ceremony at the tomb of General MacArthur, and the premiere of a new documentary about the thousands of Filipino guerrillas who played an active part in the fight against the Japanese in the Philippines.

Authors scheduled to speak are all veterans of the war in the Philippines. Juergen Goldhagen, Hans Hoeflin, and Rod Hall grew up in Japanese Occupied Manila. Cecily Mattocks Marshall was a civilian internee of the Japanese as a young girl and lived in camps on the island of Mindanao and Manila’s Santo Tomas. Don Dencker served with the 96th Infantry Division and landed on the island of Leyte, 20 October 1944. This portion of the program will begin at 9:30 a.m., to be followed at 12:15 pm by a wreath laying and remembrance ceremony. The Tidewater Pipes and Drums will be on hand to play at the ceremony and afterward. At 2:00 pm will be the premiere of the Peter Parsons documentary about the guerrilla war in the Philippines during World War II, Unsurrendered: 100 Voices – The Story of the Philippine Guerrillas and Bolomen. This will be the second time a Peter Parsons film has premiered at the MacArthur Memorial Theater.

Sadly, this celebration will likely be the last large gathering of World War II veterans, civilian internees and other participants in the story of the Second World War in the Philippines at the MacArthur Memorial. Many of the veterans have indicated that they will be available for interviews.

The program is free of charge and open to the public. The wreath laying is open to all, but space is limited for the morning and afternoon programs so advance reservations are required. To reserve a seat please contact MacArthur Memorial Archivist James Zobel at (757) 441-2965 or james.zobel@norfolk.gov

MacArthur Memorial

The MacArthur Memorial is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is free. Call 757-441-2965 or log onto www.macarthurmemorial.org for more information.

"I think the Phils had have enough of American bases setting up shop. Phils military is in a sorry state right now but it's being address little by little. Things will change in the next 5-10 years for our military."

Yeah, we could cultivate our computer literate mass. Compared to other Asean countries, we have bigger mass of computer programmers.

Chinese would be an economical choice although quality, as most would percieve is questionable...

Well with regards foreign bases it's in light of the countries current inability to defend itself the presence of the US navy in Subic bay in the past was a strong deterrent to foreign encroachment , so a return of foreign forces would be a stopgap measure until the country can once again adequately defend either it's territorial waters or airspace .

There is nothing stopping for example Chinese bomber planes or other nations air forces for that matter flying all over Phillipine airspace , the best the country could do would be to call the "media" and try to somehow shame the adversary through global public opinion .

As for Chinese weapons the Phillipines would be ill advised to purchase weapons from countries it might or does have territorial disputes with .

It should purchase weapons from the west and Japan , Korea until it is able to produce some of it's own .

Operational sovereignty of weapons is pretty important for a credible defence , buying weapons from China would be a bad idea .

http://www.navalhistory.dk/images/Skibene/Niels%20Juel(1978)-3096-1980.jpg
Btw the Danish navy is bound to decomission these Niels Juel class corvettes 3 of them , being half Danish and Filipino id be quite happy to see them serving in the Phillipine navy .

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/descubierta.jpg
While the Spanish are also probably going to start retiring these descubierta class corvettes about four of them i think in the next years .

Togheter hese ships could perhaps be bought to replace the older ww2 vintage ships , they can then serve with the lone cyclone and the 3 peacock class .

Well with regards foreign bases it's in light of the countries current inability to defend itself the presence of the US navy in Subic bay in the past was a strong deterrent to foreign encroachment , so a return of foreign forces would be a stopgap measure until the country can once again adequately defend either it's territorial waters or airspace .

There is nothing stopping for example Chinese bomber planes or other nations air forces for that matter flying all over Phillipine airspace , the best the country could do would be to call the "media" and try to somehow shame the adversary through global public opinion .

As for Chinese weapons the Phillipines would be ill advised to purchase weapons from countries it might or does have territorial disputes with .

It should purchase weapons from the west and Japan , Korea until it is able to produce some of it's own .

Operational sovereignty of weapons is pretty important for a credible defence , buying weapons from China would be a bad idea .

^^You have a point...But I think Japan has a policy banning the export of military hardware abroad...If they would ease up on this policy they could be a good source of hardware not just for us but for a lot of countires Asian countries. As for the Koreans, they seem to be a lot more generous to us when in comes to giving our military hand-me-downs...I suppose seeing Korean hardware patroling our skies and seas are not such bad idea. But Id wait and see to find out where and what the top brass decides to buy...

As far as fighters go i think they should try to get the Gripen NG it would be a good choice it's cheap specifically designed to operate from small roads in the middle of nowhere and the ng has some improvements on engines and so on , it's fast becoming the new f16 .

http://www.robotechresearch.com/rpg/vehicles/EBSIS/Gripen/gripen1.jpg

Saab has made an offer to the Dutch to deliver 85 Gripens for 4.8 billion euro, about 1 billion euro cheaper than budgeted for the F-35.[50] This price includes training of pilots and maintenance for the next 30 years.

So let's say 2 billion $ for 24 planes , if 2nd hand i believe that the Swedish air force is cutting down it's fleet of gripens from 200+ to around 100 planes so there are opportunities to buy them cheaper .

I know that as an archipelago it would be desired by some to have a twin engined fighter but i think that those types would be too expensive .

Anti aircraft and ship missiles are relatively cheap should also be a good stop gap measure .

The Phillipines should really further develop it's alliances with Vietnam and South Korea ( perhaps some joint weapons acquisition to bring down costs ) , also perhaps play a more prominent role in East Timor and Papua New Guinea ( economic , military and political ) and upgrade military relations with Brunei and Singapore .

For me, the Philippines should start building its arm manufacturing capability by patronizing locally made guns,ammos and military vehicles.

The AFP should also work hand in hand with local shipbuilding companies to produce small to medium size fastcrafts with missile capabilities to stop foreign poachers.pirates, rebels, bandits and even navies trespassing our territories.

We need to put a missile system in strategic areas in Turtle islands, Kalayaan islands, Y'ami island (Batanes group) Catandanuanes or polilio islands and Surigao as deterrent.

Developing military equipment is very expensive aswell as the tooling and other infrastructures required for them , the Phillipine defence budget would not be sufficient or currently isn't sufficient to support such a policy .

Producing ammunition locally and or other weapons under license is more likely , however yes in terms of building and assembling things like armoured vehciles or warships is now whitin reach , but it will still have to purchase the high tech gear and weapons required to arm a vessel / vehicle .

I think that even 20 years down the road when the Phillipines would have achieved some measure of greater technological and industrial / economic development that it would be better off in cooperative weapons programs and acquisitions with close allies to make such acquisitions and projects cost effective , i think South Korea and others can perform the role as a strategic ally and partner in this field .

As an example Thailand has recently managed to buy 6 Gripens and is thinking of buying another 6 , if the Phillipines joined Thailand in negotiating a price both countries could have probably bought more aircraft for far less , which also makes sense when it comes to spare parts and maintenance cooperation , obviously the Phillipines should partner with countries it has no border or territorial disputes with in order to keep future options open ... .

Pwede naman sigurong mag manufacture ang Pinas ng weapons?

Troops seize main Abu-JI camp in Sulu
Nation
Written by Zaff Solmerin / Correspondent
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 21:30
THE assault of government security forces that led to the capture on Sunday of one of the biggest camps of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which also served as a sanctuary of some Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI) militants in Indanan, Sulu, is so far the biggest accomplishment against the al-Qaeda-linked group in recent years.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said the troops also confirmed the presence of two JI personalities, identified only as Mamawiyah and Quayal, among those who joined the bandits in the whole-day battle against soldiers in barangay Buansa, just a kilometer away from the main camp of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Dolorfino said troops on the field are still confirming raw intelligence reports that Omar Patek, another high-profile JI bomb expert, was with the group of Abu Sayyaf commanders Dr. Abu Pula, Albader Parad and Isnilon Hapilon during the gun battle.

Dolorfino, concurrent Task Force Comet commander, said the assault was a “big blow” to the terrorist groups who were at that time celebrating “some sort of a reunion.”

On September 19 Dolorfino said military intelligence agents confirmed the arrival of Hapilon with 40 of his men in Sulu from Basilan.

While tracking the whereabouts of Hapilon’s group, the troops chanced upon a small group of bandits believed to be the peripheral defense of their main camp in barangay Buansa.

The initial contact resulted in a firefight. When soldiers pressed the assault, more armed bandits joined the battle.

“The troops realized na napakarami palang Abu Sayyaf sa lugar and they cannot press the assault harder because of heavy resistance from the enemy. So the troops called for an air strike,” he said.

About 7 a.m., two OV-10 “Bronco” armed observation planes with four 250-lb bombs each pounded the Abu Sayyaf camp.

After the bombing run, the soldiers tried again to penetrate the area but the resistance put up by the bandits doubled.

“The firefight lasted for six hours and yet the troops still could not penetrate the area. So another air strike was requested between 1 to 2 p.m.,” Dolorfino said.

“That was the only time that we were able to overrun the enemy position. It was about 4 p.m. already.”

Five soldiers were wounded, while the bodies of two bandits were recovered.

Citing civilians’ accounts, Dolorfino said 17 more bandits were killed and dragged by their companions in their escape.

Dolorfino said the bandits were estimated to be around 220.

Dolorfino also said crystalline substances placed in plastic sachets believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and a lot of drug-use paraphernalia were found by government forces in almost every bunker and makeshift shelter inside the captured Abu Sayyaf camp.

“There were a lot of recovered suspected shabu and paraphernalia such as aluminum foil. They [bandits] are also into illegal drugs,” Dolorfino disclosed after inspecting the Abu Sayyaf camp that government troops overran on Sunday in sitio Talibang, barangay Buansa, Indanan, Sulu.

Dolorfino personally inspected the captured camp while directly giving orders to the operating troops and also led the raising of the Philippine Flag at the fallen Abu Sayyaf stronghold.

He said the camp was under the command of Gafur Jumdail, the brother of Abu Sayyaf commander Dr. Abu Pula.

“Anyway, Jumdail is a known drug addict,” Dolorfino said. (With B. Garcia Jr.)

Anong Mighty? Those ships are obsolete world war 2 era ships :nuts::lol:

Yes, WWII era obsolete ships. Is that even a strong Navy? I guess this makes us as one of the most defenseless nations in the World. huhuhu...... comparable to the Philippine Revolutionaries back then..........:ohno:

Pwede naman sigurong mag manufacture ang Pinas ng weapons?

well of course the phillipines is advanced enough to develop basic weapons if it needs to like machine guns , armoured vehicles or some sort of makeshift naval vessel with basic weapons , but it isn't capable currently of developing the type of high tech weapons that could be useful against major foreign powers like advanced missiles or whatnot completely on it's own .

Besides why invent new machine guns when lots of models already exist out there which can be procured cheaply or built under license .

It takes alot of money to build the knowledge and industrial base to be able to manufacture the state of the art in weaponry and at this point it's an industry pretty much dominated by the west , or US + EU which combined accounts for about 75% of the worlds entire defence spending and certainly in the field of r&d if not more .

With enough cash tho the Phillipines can develop it's own armaments programs , it could assemble and build vehicle hulls or platforms , but it would need foreign tech to arm them with high tech .

So for example it could build a warship hull in the country say at hanjins subic yard and procure the radars from america , anti ship missiles , canons and engines from europe and then assemble the whole thing in subic .

As for being completely defenceless i guess in the sense that larger countries or powers can violate Phillipine territorial integrity yes , but the Phillipines military is strong enough to resist them on land , and besides who would want to take responsibility of caring for or keeping 90 million unruly Filipino's under control ? lol :lol: , so in that sense i don't think anyone would contemplate an actual invasion of the whole country but perhaps challenge it in certain places like the spratleys for example .

Invasion is easy. Occupation is not and tends to be messy.

Im happy with Miriam's position regarding the VFa.

Its onerous and not beneficial to our country.

Its time to renegotiate and ask for more concessions politically (eliminate violations of our sovereignty and laws) and socio-economically (more meaningful assistance like huge monetary assistance and modern weaponry and not just surplus and junks from the US.

well of course the phillipines is advanced enough to develop basic weapons if it needs to like machine guns , armoured vehicles or some sort of makeshift naval vessel with basic weapons , but it isn't capable currently of developing the type of high tech weapons that could be useful against major foreign powers like advanced missiles or whatnot completely on it's own .

Besides why invent new machine guns when lots of models already exist out there which can be procured cheaply or built under license .

It takes alot of money to build the knowledge and industrial base to be able to manufacture the state of the art in weaponry and at this point it's an industry pretty much dominated by the west , or US + EU which combined accounts for about 75% of the worlds entire defence spending and certainly in the field of r&d if not more .

With enough cash tho the Phillipines can develop it's own armaments programs , it could assemble and build vehicle hulls or platforms , but it would need foreign tech to arm them with high tech .

So for example it could build a warship hull in the country say at hanjins subic yard and procure the radars from america , anti ship missiles , canons and engines from europe and then assemble the whole thing in subic .

As for being completely defenceless i guess in the sense that larger countries or powers can violate Phillipine territorial integrity yes , but the Phillipines military is strong enough to resist them on land , and besides who would want to take responsibility of caring for or keeping 90 million unruly Filipino's under control ? lol :lol: , so in that sense i don't think anyone would contemplate an actual invasion of the whole country but perhaps challenge it in certain places like the spratleys for example .

That's why China got the wit to challenge us in the Spratlys and in the Scarborough Shoal......... poor Philippines. The Government can very much improve the pitiful status of the Military, a 0.9% budget for it is very much low compared to our neighbors which in fact have smaller populations like Malaysia, Thailand and etc..... except Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Invasion is easy. Occupation is not and tends to be messy.
True..... in fact, if in case a country ever will be able to invade us but their stay here will be like hell. Military will turn from Conventional Warfare to Guerrilla Tactics like ambush and more.

MIRIAM SLAMS VFA, CALLS FOR REVIEW


Thursday, 24 September 2009 00:00

By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter
Manila Times

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States has not helped modernize the military, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said Wednesday as she endorsed a review of the controversial pact.

Santiago, chairman of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement, added that the Armed Forces has instead received junk from the US. Citing a report by the Center for Public Integrity, she noted that the Philippines is not even among the top 10 recipients of US military aid three years the September 11, 2001, terror attacks that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City.

After that attack, the Philippines even joined the so-called Coalition of the Willing that the US led against al-Qaeda.

“What we receive is paltry, mostly in the form of Excess Defense Articles, in other words, military junk,” Santiago said in a speech.

“They just give us those that they do not need anymore,” she added.

The agreement allows US forces to provide Manila the technical assistance needed to hunt down terrorist groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiah (JI). The pact, however, prevents the deployment of US combatants here.

Santiago, citing a report from the Federation of American scientists, also said, “Not wanting to pay the real cost, of things or destroying the surplus, the US Department of Defense dispenses most of it for free, or at deep reduction through excess defense articles program.”

VFA a failure

Santiago said that the Visiting Forces Agreement was a failure, because after 10 years, the Philippine military was yet not modernized as a result. The Armed Forces has also lagged behind the military forces of neighboring countries, and terrorist groups were as active as ever.

“What we have in Mindanao is a domestic problem that should be dealt by the Philippines. The United States has no right to interfere,” Santiago said.
Backers of agreement credit the pact with help Filipinos fight the terrorist groups in the South.

The fundamental change of circumstance, the senator explained, was that although US troops were ostensibly limited to military training exercises, they were embedded in Philippine combat units, wearing uniforms and carrying firearms.

“The RP Constitution prohibits foreigners from engaging in combat operations, either in traditional warfare, or in unconventional warfare,” she said.

Calls for a repeal for the agreement surfaces from time to time, but normally when Americans commit crimes while in the country. US military presence in the Philippines has been a sensitive issue even after American military bases pulled out from the country in the 1991.

The Philippines was a colony of the United States since the Spanish-American in 1898 until 1946, after the Allied Forces victory in World War II.:)

Well the US was already downgrading it's presence in the Phillipines after the cold war , however the mt Pinatubo thing and the kicking out laws wasn't very friendly , so i think that the phillipines should be happy with whatever assistance is given as it's better than non at all .

In the end of the day the country will have to play ball if it seeks some types of sophisticated military aid , the US mainly requires strategic positions vis a vis their containment policy of China the Phillipines of course could be more forthcoming in this regard which in turn could spur more aid .

The new Japanese government for example is itself tryign to break free from the US sphere something the US will try to resist , the Chinese are happy of course that the Americans have the Japanese on a leash containing Japanese potential power , both are suspicious of Japans attempts to create an east asian community in which Japan can effectively contest China's leadership role in the region .

I think the phillipines seem to lack a more sophisticated foreign policy .

I believe that the Phillipines should develop it's own alliance system , as ive mentioned before East Timor having a similar culture is a good candidate , the Phillipines sent peacekeepers there before , i think that they should return in the form of military advisors , and to set up a formal military alliance , and provide them with basic equipment ( i know the phillipines itself needs equipment ) , other means of influence could be economic send SM to build malls for example and set up phillipine banks , allow East Timorese officers to study and train in Phillipine military academies and so on , furthermore the Phillipines can act as the cultural big brother for those countries .

A similar deal should be made with Papua New Guinea , these two would form the core alliance .

A second category in this alliance could be with Thailand , Brunei and Singapore which could mainly be an alliance of mutual defence and other training or joint weapons acquisitions projects .

What you then get is an alliance of countries that would be useful in geopolitical questions regarding Malaysia and Indonesia .

----------------

Another alliance system can be formed with Vietnam South Korea and Japan and unofficially with Taiwan , this second track would focus on mutual defence and cooperation which main purpose would be to defend each other from any possible Chinese threat primarily and secondly N Korean , the Chinese will increasingly be able to bully individual countries but not the entire neighbourhood , this alliance system would be viable for Japan and South Korea for a myriad of reasons not least as mentioned Japans desire to strike out on it's own away from uncle Sams shadow .

The Alliance with Vietnam in particular should be treated with great importance as we can mutually support each others claims in the south China sea both politically and militarily , support the Vietnamese in the Paracel islands in return for support on Scarborough shoals , the Phillipines can then share the Spratlys with Brunei only claiming two islands and Vietnam which can be compensated with a few islands while the Phillipines retain a majority .

-----------------------------

A third track of alliance could be with the west Australia , N Zealand , Nato countries for broader international issues .

It's in the phillipines interests to create a balance of power between China and Japan and between the US and China while im sure these goals would be similar to South Korean interests as US power continue to recede in coming decades .

This will also give the Phillipines a niche and help turn it into a regional power in it's own right , strategically located between South East Asia and East Asia ( a role it played for Japanese military planners during ww2 ) , of course alot of development needs to be done first and naturally the country will have to learn to pay for it's own defence if it doesn't want to rely on handmedowns .

Obviously the Phillipines should always try to seek compromise and the use of diplomacy to further regional peace and prosperity instead of military means , perhaps SEATO can also be revived at first as a forum of defence cooperation and as ASEAN's future defence security alliance , and further down the road say 80 years perhaps a SEATO ( South East & East Asian Treaty Organisation to include Japan and South Korea ) , ANZAC , NATO interlinking alliance can be established.

And the Phils does need to hurry and get it's act togheter :
http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-42612820090922?sp=true

BEIJING (Reuters) - China plans to transform its naval and air forces to project power further from its shores, China's defence minister said a week before the nation puts on a massive military parade showcasing its strength.

The navy will expand to include blue-water capability as well as "relatively strong" coastal defence, and the air force will evolve from a purely defensive capability to include both defensive and offensive stances, General Liang Guanglie said.

China has long held a goal to develop an aircraft carrier, which would allow it to project military power far beyond its shores. Last winter, the Chinese navy deployed to waters off Somalia to protect commercial shipping from pirates.

"According to our strategic plan, the army will transform from regional defence to a mobile force deploying across our whole territory, the navy will have a relatively strong coastal defence ability to fight wars far out at sea, and the air force will shift from defending national territory to defensive and offensive capabilities," Liang said

^^^^
Actually a good idea especially if we work wit East Timor and Papua New Guinea.

Of course we should not forget Indonesia who is always supportive of the country.

SEATO will really needed as China may try to bully us especially in the Spratlys. Instead of disputing, ASEAN needs to unit itself and protect it's territories from non-southeast asians.

Im happy with Miriam's position regarding the VFa.

Its onerous and not beneficial to our country.

Its time to renegotiate and ask for more concessions politically (eliminate violations of our sovereignty and laws) and socio-economically (more meaningful assistance like huge monetary assistance and modern weaponry and not just surplus and junks from the US.

Let's get real here folks.

Easier to say than done especially when you're dealing with a superpower. It's either their way or the highway. No renegotiation can ever take place without compromises. We are the weaker country so we have no bargaining power. If VFA gets abolished, that's it.

If they wanted VFA to be renegotiated, the first thing Philippines has to do is establish a bargaining power in the same way that Japan or South Korea have. These countries are able to do so because their defense systems are advanced and modern to begin with. Their foot soldiers stationed in their bases are subject to their laws without compromises.

Our sovereignty laws doesn't mean a thing if we lack the capability to protect it.

Well the US was already downgrading it's presence in the Phillipines after the cold war , however the mt Pinatubo thing and the kicking out laws wasn't very friendly , so i think that the phillipines should be happy with whatever assistance is given as it's better than non at all .

In the end of the day the country will have to play ball if it seeks some types of sophisticated military aid , the US mainly requires strategic positions vis a vis their containment policy of China the Phillipines of course could be more forthcoming in this regard which in turn could spur more aid .

The new Japanese government for example is itself tryign to break free from the US sphere something the US will try to resist , the Chinese are happy of course that the Americans have the Japanese on a leash containing Japanese potential power , both are suspicious of Japans attempts to create an east asian community in which Japan can effectively contest China's leadership role in the region .

I think the phillipines seem to lack a more sophisticated foreign policy .

I believe that the Phillipines should develop it's own alliance system , as ive mentioned before East Timor having a similar culture is a good candidate , the Phillipines sent peacekeepers there before , i think that they should return in the form of military advisors , and to set up a formal military alliance , and provide them with basic equipment ( i know the phillipines itself needs equipment ) , other means of influence could be economic send SM to build malls for example and set up phillipine banks , allow East Timorese officers to study and train in Phillipine military academies and so on , furthermore the Phillipines can act as the cultural big brother for those countries .

A similar deal should be made with Papua New Guinea , these two would form the core alliance .

A second category in this alliance could be with Thailand , Brunei and Singapore which could mainly be an alliance of mutual defence and other training or joint weapons acquisitions projects .

What you then get is an alliance of countries that would be useful in geopolitical questions regarding Malaysia and Indonesia .

----------------

Another alliance system can be formed with Vietnam South Korea and Japan and unofficially with Taiwan , this second track would focus on mutual defence and cooperation which main purpose would be to defend each other from any possible Chinese threat primarily and secondly N Korean , the Chinese will increasingly be able to bully individual countries but not the entire neighbourhood , this alliance system would be viable for Japan and South Korea for a myriad of reasons not least as mentioned Japans desire to strike out on it's own away from uncle Sams shadow .

The Alliance with Vietnam in particular should be treated with great importance as we can mutually support each others claims in the south China sea both politically and militarily , support the Vietnamese in the Paracel islands in return for support on Scarborough shoals , the Phillipines can then share the Spratlys with Brunei only claiming two islands and Vietnam which can be compensated with a few islands while the Phillipines retain a majority .

-----------------------------

A third track of alliance could be with the west Australia , N Zealand , Nato countries for broader international issues .

It's in the phillipines interests to create a balance of power between China and Japan and between the US and China while im sure these goals would be similar to South Korean interests as US power continue to recede in coming decades .

This will also give the Phillipines a niche and help turn it into a regional power in it's own right , strategically located between South East Asia and East Asia ( a role it played for Japanese military planners during ww2 ) , of course alot of development needs to be done first and naturally the country will have to learn to pay for it's own defence if it doesn't want to rely on handmedowns .

Obviously the Phillipines should always try to seek compromise and the use of diplomacy to further regional peace and prosperity instead of military means , perhaps SEATO can also be revived at first as a forum of defence cooperation and as ASEAN's future defence security alliance , and further down the road say 80 years perhaps a SEATO ( South East & East Asian Treaty Organisation to include Japan and South Korea ) , ANZAC , NATO interlinking alliance can be established.

And the Phils does need to hurry and get it's act togheter :
http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-42612820090922?sp=true

The countries I'd love to see the Philippines in relations with rankings:

1. Spain (our former colonial master and now one of our close allies)
2. East Timor (both Catholic Dominated)
3. Great Britain (one of the most powerful amongst the Western countries)
4. Vietnam (Our only communist military ally)
5. Thailand (I trust Thais)
6. Indonesia (our neighbor and long term ally)
7. India (I dunno.......... maybe BPO?)
8. South Korea (Good economy and advanced technology)
9. Japan (One of our closest ally)
10. Singapore (just an Island City - State
11. Taiwan (Renegade province and a good ally against Mainland China)
12. Germany (I just don't know)
13. Russia (already distancing itself from China)
14. France (one of the old allies since WWII)
15. Canada (I also dunno?)

kenken94:

mula ito sa googled na binasa ko sa postings mo.
http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/O-W/Open-Door-Policy-Laying-down-the-policy.html


3rd paragraph

Washington responded cautiously to this pressure, only gradually accepting the notion that it should play an active role in promoting American economic interests abroad. The possibility clashed with laissez-faire notions of economics and governance, ideas that remained influential with many Americans even in the 1890s. Only the Spanish-American War resolved the issue in favor of the industrialists and others who advocated bold action abroad. Following its crushing victory over Spain in the spring of 1898, the United States became the scene of a vast public debate over whether to annex the Philippines, the former Spanish colony ripe for the taking if the United States was willing to become a colonial power. The debate concerned not only the Philippines themselves, of course, but also the role that the U.S. government would play in the Far East generally, including China. Advocates of annexation argued that possession of the Philippines would greatly facilitate American exploitation of the China market by providing an insular "stepping stone" to the mainland—a coaling station, naval base, cable relay station, and observation post that would enhance America's capacity to keep the door to China open. Although U.S. behavior in the Philippines smacked of naked colonialism, Americans, including McKinley himself, disavowed any such intention in China. The United States, McKinley said, desired "no advantages in the Orient which are not common to all." Still, in accepting the administrative and military burdens of empire in the Philippines, the United States signaled a new era of activism on the Asian mainland.


.....

7th paragraph

Perhaps most importantly, the Open Door policy suited Americans ideologically by sustaining their traditional aversion to colonialism and their commitment to liberal principles. Although the United States repeatedly violated its own supposed anticolonial commitments in the late nineteenth century and maintained quasi-imperial control over Latin America, a substantial portion of congressional and public opinion abided by a perception of the United States as a fundamentally anticolonial country. The resistance that the McKinley administration confronted during the debate over Philippine annexation in mid-1898 attested to the strength of anti-imperial opinion. The Open Door offered an ideal solution because it permitted the United States to obtain markets in China while assuming the moral high ground. The notes, in the words of historian Matthew Frye Jacobson, represented "an imperialist economics in the guise of anticolonialism." Both avid expansionists and old-guard devotees of laissez-faire could unite behind the Open Door idea. The policy also appealed because it promised to sustain Chinese unity and give the Chinese access to the most modern goods and ideas that Westerners had to offer. The policy thus meshed well with Americans' self-perception as a force for modernization and enlightenment in backward areas of the world. One of the foremost promoters of the Open Door in the United States, the English author and lecturer Lord Charles Beresford, struck the theme in characteristic terms a few months before Hay's notes. Proclaiming that the Open Door represented a "grand, chivalrous, [and] noble sentiment in regard to what should be done with weaker nations," he asserted that such an approach would not only advance "the interests of trade and commerce, but it will push the interests of humanity and of Christianity."



Siguro naman may ideya ka na sa FOB(forward operating base) sa Helmand :)

The countries I'd love to see the Philippines in relations with rankings:

translation: gusto mong makita ang Pilipinas, sa larangang ng pagkakasunodsunod.

Bakit di mo makumpleto ang sentence mo?

SEATO will really needed as China may try to bully us especially in the Spratlys. Instead of disputing, ASEAN needs to unit itself and protect it's territories from non-southeast asians.

payong kaibigan, huwag ng magenglish. Okay lang kung grammatically incorrect as long as it is coherent.

translation: gusto mong makita ang Pilipinas, sa larangang ng pagkakasunodsunod.

Seems to be your interpretation , i certainly and im sure others did not interpret it that way .

payong kaibigan, huwag ng magenglish. Okay lang kung grammatically incorrect as long as it is coherent.

It's just a forum lighten up ... .

Besides picking on your fellow countrymen do you have any better idea's pertinent to the actual thread issue ? .

Seems to be your interpretation , i certainly and im sure others did not interpret it that way .



It's just a forum lighten up ... .

Besides picking on your fellow countrymen do you have any better idea's pertaining to the actual thread issue ? .

Translate his post to Pilipino. I want to see if his post is close to being coherent when you translate it. Then I will be able to understand what he was saying.


Regarding the issue, I will not state the obvious, that my country's defense force is one of the weakest if not the weakest in the region and in my opinion the meager budget allocation for the defense department is justifiable as of the moment because there are other things that should be funded first than buying arms, i.e health and education. If we have spare change then we can indulge ourselves in buying arms.

Treaty and cooperation is another story all together and OT.

payong kaibigan, huwag ng magenglish. Okay lang kung grammatically incorrect as long as it is coherent.

Yeah, thanks!:)

Regarding the issue, I will not state the obvious, that my country's defense force is one of the weakest if not the weakest in the region and in my opinion the meager budget allocation for the defense department is justifiable as of the moment because there are other things that should be funded first than buying arms, i.e health and education. If we have spare change then we can indulge ourselves in buying arms.

Treaty and cooperation is another story all together and OT.

Good relations is what's our best approach on most nations. On the other hand, treaties, those of which involves our national security should only be relied to those whom we've already built trust with. Well, except for the United States.......... Spain, Britain, France and Germany tops the list among European countries.:)

Though Germany was one of the Philippines' main enemies in the Second World War, modern relations are good and should Germany be a useful ally.

Southeast Asia needs more defense integration and as soon as the the ASEAN Community materializes by 2015, a military should be included in the integration.

in my opinion the meager budget allocation for the defense department is justifiable as of the moment because there are other things that should be funded first than buying arms, i.e health and education. If we have spare change then we can indulge ourselves in buying arms.


I agree to a point , i agree that the country has alot of social issues to solve which would require alot of ressources but those issues will be around for decades to come , in that time security issues will also continue to exist .

I believe that the country can do both obviously defence spending in moderation and tight scrutiny , but the current defence budgets should be raised to provide at least a minimum capability in defending the country against both foreign and domestic threats .

Here in the west defence is sometimes thought of as being rather useless since our countries now live in relative peace thanks to a multitude of reasons , however the Phillipines east and south east asia still has some way to go before it reaches the same level of peaceful coexistence , one should not forget the role defence also plays or can play in social issues .

Away from the shooting end of defence there is the economic dimension , defence in western countries are also job programs they employ alot of people and contribute to scientific and technological developments that filter through onto the civilian economy and of course as stated it's effects on the economy as a whole .

So let's think of defence in another way , the country has millions of surpluss kids and a jobs problem , by increasing the defence budget the country could create the beginings of a defence industry which can employ alot of people reducing unemployment and poverty .

2nd idea would be to reinstate a form of national service ( im not aware if it still exists ), again the country has millions of kids who are idle or unproductive while the country suffers from alot of social and developmt issues , let them serve a year or two of their lives in either :

a ) Auxiliary home guard service which main goal would be to ensure that the country has a pool of trained recruits or reservists in time of war or for the regular military , of course these kids should not be sent to any frontline combat they would essentially play boy scouts in safe area's , their tasks would simply be to provide logistics support for the regular military , train in military skills and help in various calamity rescue operations .

b ) If a draftee is either physically unfit for the "home guard" or if they wish to do something else then they should be allowed to do social services sort of like the US "peace corps" , if they seek to study medicine in university then they can do some volunteer work in rural area's , if you want to be an engineer you can be sent to engineering groups to the countryside helping farmers for example erect new irrigation or power lines or even just help folks set up their computers .

This will do a couple of things , get unemployed kids of the streets ( reduce unemployment ) , get the youth to work with and get to know others from different levels of society and regions fostering greater camraderie and understanding while reinforcing national cohesion , it would help with some of the countries development needs and in return give these kids real world experience in a vriety of fields which will prepare them better for their civilian careers ( working in medecin , engineering , or by joining the home guard working in logistics sector etc ) .

A 3rd point would be the need to defend the countries EEZ , defence is also about safeguarding the nations natural wealth .

This is best exemplified with the spratly's , without a proper means of defending the countries EEZ or exclusive economic zones the country would stand to lose alot of ressources which it needs to develop and sustain it's economy which in turn would help alleviate poverty and fund other beneficial social policies .

Finally the continuing insurgencies can't be beaten by force of arms alone but the military can play a role in pacifying regions to a level where social and economic development can take root and change the dynamic of conflicts leading to lasting peace , let's not forget how important peace and security is for social and economic development .

So i would argue that there is a social and economic case to be made for a sensible increase in defence spending which at any rate should not be more than 3% of GDP .

Pwede naman sigurong mag manufacture ang Pinas ng weapons?

http://www.geocities.com/mx8armor/IMG_1743.jpg

An Philippine Army developed armored vehicle

http://www.geocities.com/mx8armor/Newspaper2.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9211/startoon.gif

Reviewing a partnership

Editorial
(The Philippine Star)
Updated September 27, 2009 12:00 AM


Though lacking in enthusiasm, senators have effectively approved a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement, by not voicing opposition to Resolution 1356 of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. Before anyone gets cold feet and worries about being denied a US visa, executive officials tasked to review the VFA must remember US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, whose trial and conviction for rape, subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeals, highlighted certain provisions of the agreement that are lopsided in favor of the Americans.

The VFA and its companion agreement, VFA II, gives the US custody of American soldiers accused of crimes in the Philippines until final resolution of the case. Or at least that was the interpretation of both the US and Philippine governments in the case of Smith, who was transferred, with Manila’s consent, from the Makati City Jail to the US embassy during his trial. There is no reciprocal provision in the VFA for Filipino soldiers who might find themselves in the same predicament in the United States. Also, there is a provision in the VFA that says the Philippine government can decline a US request for custody of its soldiers under certain circumstances — something that Manila did not invoke in the case of Smith.

Some legal observers have also pointed out that since the VFA is considered a mere executive agreement by Washington while the Philippines considers it as a treaty requiring Senate ratification, the agreement is void. US officials have said they saw no need to renegotiate the treaty, insisting that the VFA worked fine in the case of Smith. But even Americans should see the need for clarification of certain provisions in the VFA, including the one that is vague on when the one-year period for the final conclusion of judicial proceedings involving their military personnel is supposed to start and end. Are appeals covered by this period?

The VFA review will cover the country’s defense cooperation with Washington in general, which Philippine officials said have been beneficial for the country. The two countries share democratic ideals and have a century-old partnership that should not be imperiled by the review of a defense agreement. Post-colonial relationships are always complex. The new US president, Barack Obama, is proving himself to be more responsive to the views of America’s global partners. A review of the VFA should lead not to acrimony but to a more mature relationship between two long-standing allies.

My salute to another fallen soldier.

Soldier saves 20 before drowning in Laguna (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=509276&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

MANILA, Philippines - A soldier saved 20 people from raging floodwaters during rescue operations but lost his own life when he drowned later in Famy town, Laguna.

Rescuers recovered yesterday the body of Army Private First Class Venancio Ancheta after he was swept away by rushing floodwaters while rescuing residents at the height of storm “Ondoy.”

Ancheta, member of the Alpha Company of the 16th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, was among six rescuers who died while helping flood victims in Laguna.

Troops also recovered the bodies of Army Cpl. Adriano Regua and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit militiamen Joel Hernalin, Erineo Olaguer, Florencio Dequino, and Pedro Falcon in Barangay Nanguma in Mabitac town, Laguna.

Two more CAFGU militiamen were still missing as of press time.

“Ancheta was able to save 20 people from the raging floods before he was swept away,” said Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, army spokesman.

Soldiers from the 16th Army Infantry Battalion and the 1st IB based in Cavinti, Laguna were also still looking for their missing colleagues.

Navy rescue teams

Yesterday, Philippine Navy teams also rescued hundreds of residents in various parts of Central Luzon.

The navy deployed rubber boats, six by six military trucks and personnel to flood-stricken areas in Pasig, Cainta and Marikina, all hardest hit by floods.

They rescued 17 from the rooftop of barangay hall, Montevista, Marikina City; five persons stranded at floodway Crispa, Pasig to Riverside Village, Cainta; 150 stranded in Navotas; 40 in Jose Abad Santos, Tondo; and 750 in España, Manila.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, navy spokesman said rescue teams are now concentrating their efforts in villages in Cainta, Rizal, Pasig, and Marikina, especially Provident Village.

Also yesterday morning, a Navy Seal team and Marines rescued 120 residents of Provident Village, while another team rescued a 65-year-old woman from Barangay Tumana.

Rescue operations were ongoing, said Arevalo.

Arevalo reported that a naval detachment in Infanta, Quezon evacuated 43 personnel from Barangay Banglos to a center in Camp General Nakar, Quezon.

The Navy team also assisted the National Disaster Coordinating Council in distributing relief goods to victims of flash floods in Barangay Ilog, Infanta.

Two rescue teams from Naval Forces Northern Luzon were dispatched to Sta. Maria and Bustos towns in Bulacan, while four teams from the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales were sent to flooded towns in the province.

Death toll

The death toll in widespread flooding in Central Luzon is expected to triple from the current official government count of 52 people.

More victims from the Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion dispatched to rescue residents at Sitio Johnson, Barangay Nanguma, Mabitic town, Laguna were also reported killed.

First Infantry Battalion spokesman Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the bodies of the victims were recovered before noon yesterday.

He declined to identify the soldiers and the militiamen pending notification of their families.

“They were on their way to conduct rescue operations when they were swept away by the overflowing river,” Bacarro said.

Laguna Gov. Ningning Lazaro ordered the cancellation of classes at all levels in the province due to widespread flooding.

The capital town of Sta. Cruz was still submerged in floodwaters yesterday.

In Batangas, Gov. Vilma Santos, who is in the United States, also ordered the suspension of all classes in her province as most low-lying areas were inundated by floodwaters.

A taho vendor was killed when he was crushed by fallen trees and another one missing were reported in Calaca, Batangas during the onslaught of Ondoy Saturday morning.

Calaca Mayor Nas Ona identified the victim as Rommel Morcia, a resident of Mataas na Bayan, Calaca, Batangas. The victim was taking shelter along the highway in Barangay Sinisian when a strong wind toppled trees that fell directly on him.

Still missing is Randy Violata, 18, of Barangay Banaga, Agoncillo.

Bebeth Vale, secretariat of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council said at least 2,006 families were affected in Balayan, Nasugbu, Lemery, Calaca, Taal, Tuy, Lian, Laurel, Balete, Talisay and Sto. Tomas.

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chair and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., supervising the entire search and rescue operations, has ordered the released of 1,800 sacks to be distributed to displaced residents in Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090928/capt.60ecc864885c41a49275e6d5aca64385.philippines_flooding_mla102.jpg?x=400&y=302&q=85&sig=2Kj45VjWHRwGs1nlQwXiKA--

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090928/capt.c0c1d9a387234f7f83d97407bae38ed7.philippines_flooding_mla105.jpg?x=400&y=312&q=85&sig=6Sj2zpCMTqVc0QPZgcS4kg--

Flood victims extend their arms to receive relief goods from
a military truck after water subsides Monday, Sept. 28, 2009
in suburban Cainta,

holy sh*t....

2 US Navy men, 1 Marine soldier killed in Sulu blast (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173383/2-us-navy-men-1-marine-soldier-killed-in-sulu-blast)
09/29/2009 | 02:39 PM

Two US Navy personnel and one Philippine Marine soldier were killed when a land mine exploded along a road in Indanan, Sulu Tuesday morning, an official said.

The American fatalities were members of the US Navy construction brigade, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview. He did not disclose the identities of all three casualties.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said American officials were "investigating the incident" but declined to comment further.

Brawner said the AFP has no leads yet on who were behind the attack. The Philippine military is fighting the well-armed Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for numerous bombings and kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners in the south in recent years.

It was believed to be the first death of an American soldier caused by the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group since U.S. troops were deployed to the southern Philippines to help combat militants in 2002.

“These U.S. servicemen, from the data that we gathered, were non-combatants. They were, in fact, members of the U.S. Seabees and they were there to supervise the developmental projects in the area when they were attacked," Brawner said.

"We would like to emphasize that they were not in combat and they were escorted and they were being secured by members of the Philippine Marines," he added.

Two other Filipino soldiers were hurt when the land mine, an improvised explosive device, tore through a military convoy as it was making its way to a road project in Brgy. Kagay, Indanan municipality in Sulu province, Brawner said.

Brawner said the soldiers were on board a U.S. Humvee and were supervising the construction of the five-kilometer Kagay to Langpas road when the blast occurred at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

He said the American soldiers were part of the US Navy engineering unit assisting Philippine military personnel in various infrastructure projects in the area.

An estimated 600 U.S. troops are currently stationed in the Philippines, mostly in the southern front lines of the Philippine military's operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which is suspected of sheltering the larger Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Asked if there were any threats against the US soldiers, Brawner said, "We don't want to speculate on the perpetrators of this bombing."

But he added: "We know that the Abu Sayyaf is operating in the area." – Andreo Calonzo with a report from AP, GMANews.TV
_________________________________________

i wonder what actions will US take...:ohno:
i'm guessing tutulong na sila sa combat operations, dumb move by the ASG...:bash:

MIRIAM SLAMS VFA, CALLS FOR REVIEW


Thursday, 24 September 2009 00:00

By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter
Manila Times

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States has not helped modernize the military, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said Wednesday as she endorsed a review of the controversial pact.

Santiago, chairman of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement, added that the Armed Forces has instead received junk from the US. Citing a report by the Center for Public Integrity, she noted that the Philippines is not even among the top 10 recipients of US military aid three years the September 11, 2001, terror attacks that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City.

After that attack, the Philippines even joined the so-called Coalition of the Willing that the US led against al-Qaeda.

“What we receive is paltry, mostly in the form of Excess Defense Articles, in other words, military junk,” Santiago said in a speech.

“They just give us those that they do not need anymore,” she added.

The agreement allows US forces to provide Manila the technical assistance needed to hunt down terrorist groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiah (JI). The pact, however, prevents the deployment of US combatants here.

Santiago, citing a report from the Federation of American scientists, also said, “Not wanting to pay the real cost, of things or destroying the surplus, the US Department of Defense dispenses most of it for free, or at deep reduction through excess defense articles program.”

VFA a failure

Santiago said that the Visiting Forces Agreement was a failure, because after 10 years, the Philippine military was yet not modernized as a result. The Armed Forces has also lagged behind the military forces of neighboring countries, and terrorist groups were as active as ever.

“What we have in Mindanao is a domestic problem that should be dealt by the Philippines. The United States has no right to interfere,” Santiago said.
Backers of agreement credit the pact with help Filipinos fight the terrorist groups in the South.

The fundamental change of circumstance, the senator explained, was that although US troops were ostensibly limited to military training exercises, they were embedded in Philippine combat units, wearing uniforms and carrying firearms.

“The RP Constitution prohibits foreigners from engaging in combat operations, either in traditional warfare, or in unconventional warfare,” she said.

Calls for a repeal for the agreement surfaces from time to time, but normally when Americans commit crimes while in the country. US military presence in the Philippines has been a sensitive issue even after American military bases pulled out from the country in the 1991.

The Philippines was a colony of the United States since the Spanish-American in 1898 until 1946, after the Allied Forces victory in World War II.:)

Does this mean she regrets having originally voted in favor of the VFA? or is there another agenda for this sudden turn around regarding the VFA?

holy sh*t....


i wonder what actions will US take...:ohno:
i'm guessing tutulong na sila sa combat operations, dumb move by the ASG...:bash:

^^ The only thing that the US military can do is to give or to request from AFP more protection to the non-combatant US troops that are deployed on that area.

That's part of the risk in signing up for military service.

May they all Rest In Peace.

Philippine Landmine Kills 2 U.S. Soldiers

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125420671618148557.html
Associated Press

MANILA -- Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a landmine attack Tuesday by suspected al-Qaida-linked militants in the southern Philippines, military officials said.

U.S. officials did not immediately comment on the blast.

It was believed to be just the second time U.S. soldiers have been killed in the southern Philippines in violence blamed on the Abu Sayyaf group since American counterterrorism troops were deployed to the region in 2002, and the first fatalities in years.

One Philippine marine also was killed and two others wounded in the blast on Jolo island, where American counterterrorism troops have been providing combat training and weapons to Filipino troops battling Abu Sayyaf militants.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said a Philippine military convoy joined by U.S. troops was on its way to an area in Jolo's Indanan township where troops were building two school buildings and digging artesian wells when the landmine exploded.

One U.S. soldier died at the scene, while another who was critically wounded in the blast died a short time later, Brawner told The Associated Press.

"They were not in combat," Brawner told reporters earlier. "These U.S. soldiers were there in the area to supervise the developmental projects in Indanan."

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said American officials were "investigating the incident" but declined to comment further.

Brawner said no suspects were immediately identified, but suspicion immediately fell on the well-armed Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for numerous bombings, beheadings and kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners in the south in recent years.

A senior Philippine military commander overseeing counterterrorism campaigns in the south told The Associated Press that Abu Sayyaf had likely planted the landmine in Indanan, where the militants have jungle strongholds. The commander spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give information to reporters.

Abu Sayyaf is believed to have about 400 fighters, to have received funds from al-Qaida and is suspected of sheltering militants from the larger Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah.

An estimated 600 U.S. troops are currently stationed in the Philippines, mostly in the southern front lines of the Philippine military's operations against the Abu Sayyaf group and Jemaah Islamiyah.

In October 2002, a U.S. Green Beret was killed along with two Filipinos when a bomb loaded with nails exploded outside a cafe in Zamboanga city.

Copyright © 2009 Associated Press

Let's get real here folks.

Easier to say than done especially when you're dealing with a superpower. It's either their way or the highway. No renegotiation can ever take place without compromises. We are the weaker country so we have no bargaining power. If VFA gets abolished, that's it.

If they wanted VFA to be renegotiated, the first thing Philippines has to do is establish a bargaining power in the same way that Japan or South Korea have. These countries are able to do so because their defense systems are advanced and modern to begin with. Their foot soldiers stationed in their bases are subject to their laws without compromises.

Our sovereignty laws doesn't mean a thing if we lack the capability to protect it.

You speak the truth.

Let's get real here folks.

Easier to say than done especially when you're dealing with a superpower. It's either their way or the highway. No renegotiation can ever take place without compromises. We are the weaker country so we have no bargaining power. If VFA gets abolished, that's it.

If they wanted VFA to be renegotiated, the first thing Philippines has to do is establish a bargaining power in the same way that Japan or South Korea have. These countries are able to do so because their defense systems are advanced and modern to begin with. Their foot soldiers stationed in their bases are subject to their laws without compromises.

Our sovereignty laws doesn't mean a thing if we lack the capability to protect it.

IMHO. why not try and renegotiate.

Im not saying totally give up the VPA.

We can ask for more.

Not just junks.

^^ The only thing that the US military can do is to give or to request from AFP more protection to the non-combatant US troops that are deployed on that area.

That's part of the risk in signing up for military service.

May they all Rest In Peace.

but then they'll (US) have more reasons to stay there and possibly increase their numbers??

may nabasa din kasi ako dati (don't know if it was fiction or non) tungkol sa mga US soldiers na nagdedeliver ng UN foods... they can't attack the militias trying to take advantage pero nung sila na pinaputukan gumawa na ng action ang US army...

:cheers:

but then they'll (US) have more reasons to stay there and possibly increase their numbers??

may nabasa din kasi ako dati (don't know if it was fiction or non) tungkol sa mga US soldiers na nagdedeliver ng UN foods... they can't attack the militias trying to take advantage pero nung sila na pinaputukan gumawa na ng action ang US army...

:cheers:

The US might increase their presence but I doubt it since the order usually comes from Washington with the request of certain agencies like USAID.

Mahirap i explain ang situation ng mga servicemen that volunteered to do humanitarian assistance in other countries. When fired upon, they can protect or defend themselves or usually they are accompanied by US marines to protect the non-combatant military personnel like doctors, nurses technicians or civilian employees.
If they are not welcomed by the residents in the stricken areas, they will be forced to moved out and not offer anymore assistance. But since they are of great help to the local government in certain areas in the south, they are allowed to stay.

I'm not suggesting for you to sign up for the armed services, but I think it's a great opportunity to help others especially your fellow human beings.

and I can say "Join up and see(or help) the world". :)


It's just sickening to see these images. Kahit na sanay na akong makakita nito, kinikilabutan pa rin ako.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eXrfYYd1v4FL/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dWYdjD57Wbpd/610x.jpg

The smoldering remains of a US humvee vehicle lies on the road after a landmine blast in Indanan town, Jolo province in Mindanao island on September 29, 2009. Two US soldiers and a Philippine Marine were killed.

The US might increase their presence but I doubt it since the order usually comes from Washington with the request of certain agencies like USAID.

Mahirap i explain ang situation ng mga servicemen that volunteered to do humanitarian assistance in other countries. When fired upon, they can protect or defend themselves or usually they are accompanied by US marines to protect the non-combatant military personnel like doctors, nurses technicians or civilian employees.
If they are not welcomed by the residents in the stricken areas, they will be forced to moved out and not offer anymore assistance. But since they are of great help to the local government in certain areas in the south, they are allowed to stay.

I'm not suggesting for you to sign up for the armed services, but I think it's a great opportunity to help others especially your fellow human beings.

and I can say "Join up and see(or help) the world". :)


grabe ung images...:ohno:
anyway, thanks for the insight... ewan ko ba kung bakit ganyan ang pagtingin nila sa ginagawa ng america...
btw, black hawk down ung book na nabasa kos a somalia un kaya mas violent compared sa atin...:D

:cheers:

True Filipino Heroes. Rest in Peace.

AFP honors soldier who saved 20 flood victims in Laguna (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=510176&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By James Mananghaya (The Philippine Star)
Updated October 01, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday honored Private First Class Venancio Ancheta, the Army soldier who rescued 20 residents of Famy town in Laguna before being hit by a log and swept away by strong currents.

AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado and Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit and other top military officials paid their respects to the soldier, who died a hero during the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy.”

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and was awarded the bronze cross medal during the send-off ceremony for his remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

His wife Marilou accepted the award, as well as the P100,000 financial assistance.

“The entire AFP is mourning the death of Pfc. Ancheta, and the six others who perished while trying to save the lives of others,” Ibrado said.

For their heroic feat, 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia has promised to build a monument on the exact site where they died.

Ancheta’s remains were flown yesterday to Zamboanga City where he would be buried.

“Here lies another man who showed us what love is at its supreme expression – dying for others, another hero who joined the ranks of many among us who served without reservation. Another life lived to be consumed by his burning desire to ensure that his fellowmen are safe,” an emotional Bangit said.

Cheryl Regua, the wife of Cpl. Adriano Regua, another soldier who died while trying to rescue a comrade, also recalled that while her husband was rescuing residents of Laguna, other soldiers were rescuing them in their house in Tanay, Rizal last Saturday.

Reaching safe ground late Saturday, Cheryl sent him a text message saying, “Buti na lang ligtas tayong lahat (It’s good we are all safe),” unaware of the tragedy that befell her husband.

But she said her consolation now comes from knowing that her husband died in the line of duty, so that others may live.

“Iyon naman talaga ang gusto niya eh (He would have wanted to die that way),” she said.

Five militiamen under Regua’s command also perished after being swept away by strong currents at the height of the storm.

The Arm forces of the philippines has the most corrupt general.

The Arm forces of the philippines has the most corrupt general.

I don't think so, perhaps about one-third but not all. Compared to some countries in Asia and a nearby neighboring country, and countries in Africa and Latin America, I could say that our corrupt Generals were less than them.

By the way, what country you came from ?

Flood flushes out communist rebels
By James Mananghaya (The Philippine Star) Updated October 13, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels were not spared from the wrath of typhoon “Pepeng” (international codename: Parma) as they are now reportedly coming down from their jungle hideouts to avail themselves of relief goods being distributed by the government and other non-government organizations, particularly in northern Luzon, a military spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, said in an interview that they have received reports that New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Cagayan and Isabela provinces have been seen lining up for relief packs being given to evacuees.

Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council chair Gilbert Teodoro has ordered a temporary suspension of offensive operations against the NPA in typhoon-ravaged areas of the region.

“We have received reports that even members of the New People’s Army have come down. Some are in evacuation centers, others are availing (of) relief goods because of the lack of food in their area,” Brawner said.

But he said that the rebels, even if positively identified, could not be arrested, especially if they are not carrying firearms and there is no warrant of arrest.

“They are said to be identified by the public, but then we also want to help them and give them relief packages because they are also Filipinos,” he said.

He said that even so-called enemies should be given help if their lives are at stake.

Teodoro admitted that recent calamities, particularly tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon Pepeng, have already affected a large portion of internal security operations of the military.

“It’s a total shift from ISO to calamity response. For now we are focused on this and we don’t care what the enemy will do as of the moment. It comes with a cost on our operations, but it’s the most pressing need that we have to attend to,” he said.

However, Teodoro clarified that the shift only involved operating units, leaving them with special operations forces to respond to any threat from various armed groups, mainly the NPA.

He said intelligence operations continue so as not to give threat groups a chance to take advantage of the situation.

just like Abu Sayaf!:bash:

Sinnott sighted with MILF in Lanao
(The Philippine Star) Updated October 19, 2009 12:00 AM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Kidnapped Catholic priest Michael Sinnott has been sighted in the custody of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander in Lanao del Norte, the military said yesterday.

Quoting intelligence reports, the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command said the Irish missionary was being held by a certain Commander Nasser in Barangay Gamal, Sapad in Lanao del Norte.

At Malacañang, presidential economic spokesman Gary Olivar assured the Columban Missionaries, to which Sinnott belongs, that the Armed Forces and police are doing everything to rescue Sinnott.

“It cannot be helped that our security forces will lead and be on the frontlines of any rescue operation because they know the situation on the ground, the balance of forces and how his abductors think,” he said.

“It’s not that we are rejecting whatever help other countries, including the US, can give to help resolve the situation but our security forces would have to take the lead in this (situation).”

Barangay Gamal is reportedly located in the highest mountain of Sapad, considered one of the most depressed areas in Lanao del Norte.

Nasser used to be based in Sapad but has since moved to other areas to evade pursuing troops.

Sinnott was said to have been passed on to Nasser’s band after he was snatched by MILF commander Latip Jamat and his men. – Edith Regalado, Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, James Mananghaya

^^

Kaya masarap palakasin mabuti ang Hukbong Sandatahan eh. Ubusin na tong mga to. Ang nakakatawa lang sa sitwasyon natin kakarampot na bilang lang ng Muslim ang may gusto ng gulo at mayorya eh gusto ng katahimikan at namumuhay ng matiwasay.

Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum.


http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091006-N-0807W-783.jpg

091006-N-0807W-783 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 6, 2009) Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Carigo A. Rula directs a Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry and embarked elements of the 31st MEU are supporting humanitarian assistance efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana at the request of the Republic of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091007-N-0807W-215.jpg

091007-N-0807W-215 MANILA BAY, Philippines (Oct. 7, 2009) Brig. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, is piped aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana at the request of the Republic of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091007-N-0807W-332.jpg

091007-N-0807W-332 MANILA BAY, Philippines (Oct. 7, 2009) Brig Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, visits with embarked Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana at the request of the Republic of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091008-N-0807W-059.jpg

091008-N-0807W-059 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 8, 2009) Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) pass stores during a vertical replenishment with the Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS San Jose (TAFS 7). Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian efforts at the request of the Republic of the Philippines after two major storms struck the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091008-N-6692A-078.jpg

091008-N-6692A-078 MANILA BAY, Philippines (Oct. 8, 2009) Seaman Stephen Grande from Cranston, R.I., and Seaman Jeremy Lingle from West Frankfort, Ill., hook up a pendant to a SA-330 Puma helicopter assigned to the combat stores ship USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7), during a vertical supply replenishment aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091008-N-0807W-130.jpg

091008-N-0807W-130 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 8, 2009) Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) conduct a vertical replenishment with an SA-330 Puma helicopter assigned to the combat stores ship USNS San Jose (TAFS 7). Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian efforts at the request of the Republic of the Philippines after two major storms struck the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091008-N-0807W-093.jpg

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

Courtesy of PDFF


http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091021-N-0807W-588.jpg

091021-N-0807W-588 SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Oct. 21, 2009) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1627 assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 transports Marines and their equipment to the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091020-N-0807W-406.jpg

091020-N-0807W-406 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 20, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Zachary D. Bruton signals to a Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are participating in PHIBLEX, an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091019-N-0807W-152.jpg

091019-N-0807W-152 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 19, 2009) Philippine sailors observe the damage control team assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) demonstrate the proper procedure for combating a fire. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091019-N-0807W-114.jpg

091019-N-0807W-114 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 19, 2009) Damage Controlman Fireman Matthew C. Barrera, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), shows Philippine sailors how to attach a canteen to an MCU-2P gas mask. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released

Kadiri ang mga kagamitan ng Navy at Army natin...

kaya kailangan talaga ang AFP modernization program para ma-improve yung mga kagamitan ng mga army at navy natin...

Kadiri ang mga kagamitan ng Navy at Army natin...

I bet you that they're at least thankful and appreciative that they even have equipment to speak of and use.

Post away folks! :colgate:


Link to Thread 4 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=455536&page=176) in the Archives. :okay:

New thread! (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=990841) :colgate:



:lock:

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_090628-N-7058E-064.jpg

090628-N-7058E-064 SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 28, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) fires its 5-inch gun at a ship-deployed surface target as the Royal Malaysian Navy ships KD Lekir, KD Handalan and KD Sri Indera Sakti and the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) maneuver in formation during a surface gunnery exercise, part of the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_090628-N-7058E-020.jpg

090628-N-7058E-020 SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 28, 2009) The Royal Malaysian Navy multi-role support ship KD Sri Indera Sakti maneuvers ahead of the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), RMN frigate KD Lekir and patrol vessel KD Handalan in preparation for a drone exercise during the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_090713-N-7058E-148.jpg

090713-N-7058E-148 GULF OF THAILAND (July 13, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) leads a formation of Royal Thai Navy ships including HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911), HTMS Khirrirat (FS 432) and HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421) during the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_090713-N-7058E-097.jpg

090713-N-7058E-097 GULF OF THAILAND (July 13, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) leads a formation of Royal Thai Navy ships including HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421), HTMS Khirrirat (FS 432), HTMS Makutrajakuman (FF 433) and HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911) during the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091021-N-3283P-319.jpg

091021-N-3283P-319 SAGAMI BAY, Japan (Oct. 21, 2009) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Kurama (DDH 144) leads ships during a rehearsal for the 2009 fleet review. More than 8,000 civilians toured selected ships and viewed the rehearsal. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dominique Pineiro/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091021-N-3283P-385.jpg

091021-N-3283P-385 SAGAMI BAY, Japan (Oct. 21, 2009) Two SH-60K Sea Hawk helicopters lift off from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) during a rehearsal for the 2009 fleet review. More than 8,000 civilians toured selected ships and viewed the rehearsal. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dominique Pineiro/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091021-N-3283P-190.jpg

091021-N-3283P-190 SAGAMI BAY, Japan (Oct. 21, 2009) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Kurama (DDH 144) leads ships during a rehearsal for the 2009 fleet review. More than 8,000 civilians toured selected ships and viewed the rehearsal. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dominique Pineiro/Released)

Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z181/MSantor/LanceCorporalKatrinaHodges2.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z181/MSantor/LCplKatrinaHodge2.jpg


Soldier decorated for bravery in Iraq battles for Miss England title... and says it's the scariest thing she's ever done


She has dedicated her life so far to fighting for her country, but tonight, lance corporal Katrina Hodge has a very different goal. The squaddie is to swop her camouflage gear for a bikini to compete alongside 50 other girls for the title of Miss England.
The accidental beauty queen was entered into the local heats in her hometown of Tunbridge Wells by a friend, and was stunned when she took the crown, winning herself entry into the Miss England race.

But despite touring Iraq and engaging in hand-to-hand combat in Basra, the 22-year-old, who has been decorated for her bravery, claims that the most frightening thing she has ever done is to take to the catwalk.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-...l#ixzz0LpevsYPz (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1200950/Soldier-decorated-bravery-Iraq-battles-Miss-England-title--says-scariest-thing-shes-done.html#ixzz0LpevsYPz)

http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/photo/medium/362/362104.jpg

MINUSTAH Filipino Contingent Serves Food to Children

The members of the Filipino contingent of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) serve children a warm meal at the Amanda Marga Special Academic Institute.

Location: Port au Prince, Haiti Date: 24 March 2009
Photo # 362104 UN Photo/Marco Dormino

http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/photo/medium/362/362105.jpg

Photo # 362105 UN Photo/Marco Dormino

http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/photo/medium/362/362103.jpg

A Haitian child help a member of the Filipino contingent of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti place pairs of rubber sandals in order before food service to the children at the Amanda Marga Special Academic Institute.

Location: Port au Prince, Haiti Date: 24 March 2009
Photo # 362103 UN Photo/Marco Dormino

http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/photo/medium/203/203200.jpg

A member of the Filipino contingent of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) helps a young student of the Baptist Theological and Orphanage School drink water, as part of the sixty-third United Nations Day, to help the Haitian population, mostly children with medical care, food and school supplies.
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti Date: 24 October 2008
Photo # 203200 UN Photo/Marco Dormino

http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/photo/medium/182/182998.jpg

More

http://www.un.int/philippines/news/20090325p1.htm

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8885/610xrx4.jpg

A soldier's family stand among members of a Philippine peacekeeping force during a send-off ceremony at the military headquarters in Manila January 28, 2009. A battalion of Filipino soldiers will take part in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Liberia. Reuters

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1214/610xkf9.jpg



Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/474px-Golan_heights_rel89-orig.jpg

PR-847-09, 13 October 2009 - Filipino troops hit the ground running as they assumed their peacekeeping duties with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights immediately upon their arrival in Syria on Sunday, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York said today.

In its report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Mission said 161 troops comprising the first batch of the 1st Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent to the Golan Heights under Army Lt. Col. Milfredo Melegrito arrived in Damascus on Sunday afternoon and immediately assumed their positions.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/golanheights.jpg


The Philippine Mission said the peacekeepers—made up of 28 officers and 133 enlisted men—left the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga on board a United Nations-chartered aircraft past midnight Sunday. A second batch of 161 officers and enlisted personnel will complete the deployment when they arrive in Syria on November 1.

The Philippine Mission was informed that upon their arrival, the Filipino peacekeepers established their headquarters at Camp Ziouani and took over positions that have been turned over by their Polish counterparts. They were joined by the 14-man advance party that was deployed to the area two weeks ago to prepare for their arrival.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/golan-heights-1.jpg


The Filipino troops are expected to immediately start patrolling and monitoring the southern portion of the so-called Area of Separation—a hilly 80-kilometer stretch in the Golan Heights that has been under UN supervision since the end of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

The Philippine Contingent will form part of the 1,023-strong UNDOF peacekeeping force that also includes troops from Austria, Canada, Croatia, India and Japan who have been tasked by the Security Council to maintain the ceasefire and supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces and the so-called Areas of Separation and Limitation between the two parties.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/picture-peacekeepers-1.jpg


According to the Philippine Mission, Manila committed to send a total of 336 peacekeepers after it was requested by the United Nations to support UNDOF following the decision of Poland to end its peacekeeping presence in the Golan Heights where it has been serving since 1994.

Poland is expected to formally turnover command to the Philippines in ceremonies scheduled at Camp Ziouani on 22 October. It will retain a presence in the area until after the Philippines completes its deployment next month.

The Philippine presence in the Golan Heights is Manila’s biggest overseas deployment since it supported UN operations in East Timor in 2000 and is also considered the most challenging of all the UN peacekeeping missions the Philippines is participating in.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/3233573304_1d636cc61e.jpg


This deployment is expected to boost Philippine contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. In addition to the battalion-size unit it deployed to the Golan Heights, the Philippines also has contributed company-size units in Haiti and Liberia as well as military observers and staff officers in Cote d’ Ivoire, Kashmir,

http://dfa.gov.ph/?p=9573




http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/57be297bd8330f8fb22a5480800529b6-gr.jpg

The Golan Heights is a strategic plateau and mountainous region at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and remains a highly contested land straddling the borders of Syria and Israel.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/883a77ae95ca6b233974bb5ebba4c4d4ad8.jpg


Two-thirds of the area is currently governed by Israel. The United Nations, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Arab League, the International Committee of the Red Cross,Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch consider the Golan Heights to be territory occupied by Israel and not part of Israel proper.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/84579943ky9.jpg


Israel has controlled most of the Golan since the Six Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel passed the Golan Heights Law, which extended Israeli law and administration throughout the Israeli controlled territory, a move which was condemned by the United Nations Security Council in its motion 497.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/2406668677_17405f0483.jpg


The overwhelming majority of the international community supported the Security Council in this and have continued to do so. For example, in 2008 a plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly voted by 161-1 in favour of a motion on the "occupied Syrian Golan" that reaffirmed support for Security Council motion 497.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights

^^^^^^Nice pics!:cheers:

This is quite old, 2006 pa yata.

6th Philippine Contingent to Liberia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21013350@N03/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2045860119_91d1bff74f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/2045860103_cdfa29024b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2609339606_e25d1ea7b8.jpg

rixxskie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21013350@N03/)

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

isn't it because we are a member to the UN?? may mission ata for peace-keeping...:dunno:

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

^^ It's a complicated issue in dealing with the United Nation Security Council.
As a member nation, we are requested to participate or maybe obligated (not sure) to contribute in helping other countries in peacekeeping missions.
Medyo maganda ang pasuweldo sa kanila but just the same, they are also risking their lives to help others.


Now, when it comes to our domestic problems.......


alam mo na naman yung mga problema sa atin diba?. I can also say -- "Hay Naku Gloria!!!"

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8885/610xrx4.jpg

A soldier's family stand among members of a Philippine peacekeeping force during a send-off ceremony at the military headquarters in Manila January 28, 2009. A battalion of Filipino soldiers will take part in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Liberia. Reuters

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1214/610xkf9.jpg



Courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces Forum.

my father went there... 3rd PCH, hope i can go there too.

avenger, are you from 14th IB?

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

Actually we are making more money if we join the UN peace keeping troops.

Our soldiers were getting their UN allowance in US Dollars which is even more higher than their monthly pay.

For every equipments our troops bring to their country of assignment were being paid monthly. As per some report some countries were able to buy helicopters and other equipments after they lend their equipments to UN.

"TUBONG LUGAW" daw sabi sa usapan sa Phil Defense Forum "timawa.net"

my father went there... 3rd PCH, hope i can go there too.

avenger, are you from 14th IB?

Negative comrade .........

Not even a soldier ........ pero kung minsan part time ....... rebellious :)

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

^^:wtf:...:doh:

^^:wtf:...:doh:


Re: Philippine Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2009, 01:43:10 AM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How do these things work?

The UN pays for these missions right so I assume it's advantageous for the AFP to send as large a contingent as possible. Our soldiers get extra money PLUS the experience of working in a different environment (e.g. it's not everyday they get to operate in the desert or cold).

Would it not be good policy to send out several battalions of AFP and PNP personnel at any given time?


http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=17793.0


OUR TROOPS NEEDED THE CASH AND EXPERIENCE, WHY NOT LET THEM BECAME A UN PEACE KEEPER.

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

I want to comment on this! Bakit mo sisisihin si Gloria? If im not mistaken Matagal ng nagpapadala ng Volunteer ang Pilipinas sa Mga UN Peaceleeping Mission? Kahit noong di pa pangulo si Gloria! What a common sense!

Another one wala ako nakikitang mali kung magpapadala ng mga volunteer sa mga bansang o lugar na katulad nito. Yes i know may prob. tayo dito sa ating bansa but our gov't is doing its best to solve this and we are lucky dahil ang digmaan sa atin ay nasa Mindanao lang kung i kukumpara mo sa ibang bansa katulad ng Haiti na affected ang kapayapaan ng buong bansa nila!

^^ that's right!

Also, Sending our volunteer troops for peacekeeping jobs is one way of paying our dues, membership and assesed contributions to the administrative budget of UN that pays salaries for UN employees at UN headquarters all over the world, and maintains conferences services and facilities at those locations. Correct me if I'm wrong, that's what I read on some reports.

Despite the large number of contributors, the greatest burden continues to be borne by a core group of developing countries, who often profit financially from their participation in such missions. The 10 main troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations as of March 2007 were Pakistan (10,173), Bangladesh (9,675), India (9,471), Nepal (3,626), Jordan (3,564), Uruguay (2,583), Italy (2,539), Ghana (2,907), Nigeria (2,465), and France (1,975).[6]

The head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guéhenno, has reminded Member States that “the provision of well-equipped, well-trained and disciplined military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping operations is a collective responsibility of Member States. Countries from the South should not and must not be expected to shoulder this burden alone”.

They got a chance in using some modern equipments.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2609447462_519ef051e5.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/3703456393_7b0bf3007a.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/94922305_90d08ae8a8.jpg

that flores girl looks photogenic...

well anyway, here are a few bronco shots:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/kubwak/dpss/planespot-6359.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/kubwak/dpss/planespot-6367.jpg

RP soldiers begin Golan peacekeeping mission
10/24/2009 | 05:05 PM

The Philippine flag now flies over the Golan Heights as Filipino peacekeepers officially started their tour of duty there Thursday.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines took over from Poland in peacekeeping duties under the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

"In ceremonies held in New York on October 22, Poland lowered its national colors while the Philippines raised its own to signal the formal assumption by the 1st Philippine Battalion of peacekeeping responsibilities in the southern sector of a United Nations-controlled zone that has kept Israeli and Syrian forces apart since the end of the Arab-Israeli War in 1974," the DFA said on its website
(www.dfa.gov.ph) Friday.

Polish battalion commander Lt. Col. Mariusz Jurek handed to Philippine commanding officer Lt. Col. Milfredo Melegrito the symbolic key to Camp Ziouani.

UNDOF Force commander Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke presided over the ceremony attended by UNDOF officials and members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from Israel.

The Philippine Mission to the UN said 336 Filipino troops will be in the Golan Heights by the end of the month once Poland completes its withdrawal from UNDOF.

When the rest of the Philippine battalion arrives at the end of the month, Philippine presence in the Golan Heights will bring to almost 1,000 the total number of military and police personnel serving in UN peacekeeping missions, the DFA added.

"The Philippine contingent will form part of the 1,023-strong UNDOF peacekeeping force that also includes troops from Austria, Canada, Croatia, India and Japan who have been tasked by the Security Council to maintain the cease-fire and supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces and the so-called Areas of Separation and Limitation between the two parties," the DFA said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia represented Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the ceremonies.

Also in attendance were Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for operations Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, UN Philippine Mission to UN peacekeeping officer Elmer Cato, AFP peacekeeping operations center commanding officer Col. Gregory Cayetano, and officers of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Garcia said the deployment to the Golan Heights is the biggest and most challenging peacekeeping operation for Manila in almost a decade and is in line with the country’s obligations as a charter member of the United Nations.

“We also see our presence here in the Golan as our own little way of contributing to peace in the region. As a friend to both Israel and Syria, it would be to the interest of the Philippines that peace reigns in all of the Middle East where many of our countrymen are based," she said.

Garcia said that in accepting the UN invitation to deploy an infantry battalion to Golan, Manila considered the fact that in UNDOF's 35 years, the cease-fire and disengagement between Israel and Syria has been observed and not a single serious incident has shattered the peace in the area.

“For this, we are thankful not only for the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by UN peacekeepers but also for the excellent cooperation exhibited by both Israel and Syria," she said.

Garcia also lauded Poland for UNDOF's success story.

“Poland’s contributions to the cause of peace will never be forgotten and the Philippine Contingent can be expected to continue and build on the good work Warsaw has started here in the Golan. Although the Philippines is a small country with limited means, it takes its responsibility in United Nations peacekeeping very seriously," she said.

She also noted Filipino peacekeepers have served in Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Cote d’ Ivoire, Darfur, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Kashmir, Kosovo, Nepal, Sudan and Timor Leste.

“Like Poland, the Philippines is proud of its strong peacekeeping tradition that dates back to the 1960s when the Philippines first sent an Air Force squadron to support UN operations in the Congo," she said. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/175482/rp-flag-flies-over-golan-as-pinoy-peacekeepers-start-watch



Here are more photographs taken during the turnover in Camp Ziouani in the Israeli-occupied Golan and not in New York as erroneously reported.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-1.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-2.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-3.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-4.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-5.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-6.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-7.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-9.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-10.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-11.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-12jpg.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-13jpg.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-14.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-15.jpg



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-POL-1-1.jpg
Wow, they are all wearing shades.



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-POL-2-1.jpg

Looks like an easy assignment, the Polish troops are very healthy looking, many are even chubby.


Our troops will also be issued sunglasses to help them cope with the harsh glare in the area. This is already being worked out. Also the possibility of a new set of uniforms different from the standard issue to help our troops cope with the heat in the area.


Photos courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces - Timawa.net.

^^ They have to blend with their surroundings. Ilang buwan lang naka DESIGNER boots, sunglasses and desert uniform na sila. :D

that flores girl looks photogenic...



She looks Chinita, I think that Pinay with Chinita looks were pretty.

Also Pinay with very dark complexion were pretty like those in Cainta Rizal and some in Pangasinan.

nag plebo ako sa pma pero hindi ko na tinuloy. nanghihinayang ako.

isn't it because we are a member to the UN?? may mission ata for peace-keeping...:dunno:

Yes, as a member of UN dapat din tayong magpadala. In return, nakakatulong din ito sa ating bansa. :)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091021-N-0807W-588.jpg

091021-N-0807W-588 SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Oct. 21, 2009) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1627 assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 transports Marines and their equipment to the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091020-N-0807W-406.jpg

091020-N-0807W-406 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 20, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Zachary D. Bruton signals to a Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are participating in PHIBLEX, an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091019-N-0807W-152.jpg

091019-N-0807W-152 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 19, 2009) Philippine sailors observe the damage control team assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) demonstrate the proper procedure for combating a fire. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091019-N-0807W-114.jpg

091019-N-0807W-114 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 19, 2009) Damage Controlman Fireman Matthew C. Barrera, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), shows Philippine sailors how to attach a canteen to an MCU-2P gas mask. Harpers Ferry, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is an exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091004-M-9443M-166.jpg

091004-M-9443M-166 MANILA (Oct. 5, 2009) Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines deliver family food packs donated by local businesses and private organizations to aid communities affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marie Matarlo/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091004-M-9443M-148.jpg

091004-M-9443M-148 MANILA (Oct. 4, 2009) Filipino citizens stand in line for family food packs donated by local businesses and private organizations to aid communities affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marie Matarlo/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091004-M-9443M-134.jpg

091004-M-9443M-134 MANILA (Oct. 5, 2009) Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines deliver family food packs donated by local businesses and private organizations to aid communities affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marie Matarlo/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091005-M-9443M-092.jpg

091005-M-9443M-092 MANILA (Oct. 5, 2009) Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines deliver family food packs donated by local businesses and private organizations to aid communities affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marie Matarlo/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091005-N-6692A-063.jpg

091005-N-6692A-063 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 5, 2009) Sailors assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) watch as a landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 launches from the well deck. Tortuga, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian assistance efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana at the request of the Republic of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino/Released)

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_091007-N-0807W-034.jpg

091007-N-0807W-034 MANILA BAY, Philippines (Oct. 7, 2009) The amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) conducts flight operations in Manila Bay. Tortuga, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are supporting humanitarian assistance efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana at the request of the Republic of the Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

isn't it because we are a member to the UN?? may mission ata for peace-keeping...:dunno:
^^ It's a complicated issue in dealing with the United Nation Security Council.
As a member nation, we are requested to participate or maybe obligated (not sure) to contribute in helping other countries in peacekeeping missions.
Medyo maganda ang pasuweldo sa kanila but just the same, they are also risking their lives to help others.

Actually we are making more money if we join the UN peace keeping troops.

Our soldiers were getting their UN allowance in US Dollars which is even more higher than their monthly pay.


Wa wa naman si Kenken, pinutakte ng critism :lol:

Everybody was right though, we can't just keep on receiving, we also have to give.. There are peace corps like from the US that is being sent to the Philippines. Sending "some" filipino troops overseas like Liberia is one way of keeping a balance all over the world, even poor countries like the Philippines needs to send some sort of assistance. And yes, the Philippine government receive some benefits from the UN for doing these.

Our salute to the UN council!

RP soldiers begin Golan peacekeeping mission
10/24/2009 | 05:05 PM

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-PHIL-1.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UNDOF-POL-2-1.jpg

Looks like an easy assignment, the Polish troops are very healthy looking, many are even chubby.


Our troops will also be issued sunglasses to help them cope with the harsh glare in the area. This is already being worked out. Also the possibility of a new set of uniforms different from the standard issue to help our troops cope with the heat in the area.


Photos courtesy of Philippine Defense Forces - Timawa.net.

I was gonna comment on that part where the pinoy troops doesn't even have a cheap sunglasses, not that it is really important. Just mean, Kawawa naman kung wala....

.
By APRIL CASTRO and DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writers April Castro And Devlin Barrett, Associated Press Writers – 41 mins ago



FORT HOOD, Texas – Military officials were starting Friday to piece together what may have pushed an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress to turn on his comrades in a shooting rampage that killed 12 people and wounded 31 in Texas.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/2p.jpg


The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital after being shot four times during the shootings at the Army's sprawling Fort Hood, post officials said. In the early chaos after the shootings, authorities believed they had killed him, only to discover later that he had survived.

In Washington, a senior U.S. official said authorities at Fort Hood initially thought one of the victims who had been shot and killed was the shooter. The mistake resulted in a delay of several hours in identifying Hasan as the alleged assailant.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/8p.jpg


Authorities have not ruled out that Hasan was acting on behalf of some unidentified radical group, the official said. He would not say whether any evidence had come to light to support that theory.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were under investigation.

Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of "friendly fire," that in the mayhem and confusion at the shooting scene some of the responding military officials may have shot some of the victims.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/13p.jpg


The gunfire broke out around 1:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening. Nearby, some soldiers were readying to head into a graduation ceremony for troops and families who had recently earned degrees.

Pastor Greg Schannep had just parked his car along the side of the theater and was about to head into the ceremony when a man in uniform approached him.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/18p.jpg


"Sir, they are opening fire over there!" the man told him. At first, he thought it was a training exercise — then heard three volleys and saw people running. As the man who warned him about the shots ran away, he could see the man's back was bloodied from a wound.

Schannep said police and medical and other emergency personnel were on the scene in an instant, telling people to get inside the theater. The post went into lockdown while a search began for a suspect and emergency workers began trying to treat the wounded. Some soldiers rushed to treat their injured colleagues by ripping their uniforms into makeshift bandages to treat their wounds.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/22p.jpg


Fort Hood Lt. Gen. Bob Cone praised the soldiers for their quick reaction.

"God bless these soldiers," Cone said. "As horrible as this was it could have been worse."

Video from the scene showed police patrolling the area with handguns and rifles, ducking behind buildings for cover. Sirens could be heard wailing while a woman's voice on a public-address system urged people to take cover. Schools on the base went into lockdown, and family members trying to find out what was happening inside found cell phone lines jammed or busy.

"I was confused and just shocked," said Spc. Jerry Richard, 27, who works at the center but was not on duty during the shooting. "Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can't even defend yourself."


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/29p.jpg


The wounded were dispersed among hospitals in central Texas, Cone said. Their identities and the identities of the dead were not immediately released.

Jamie and Scotty Casteel stood outside the emergency room at the hospital in Temple waiting for news of their son-in-law Matthew Cooke, who was among the injured.

"He's been shot in the abdomen and that's all we know," Jamie Casteel told The Associated Press. She said Cook, from New York state, had been home from Iraq for about a year.

Amber Bahr, 19, was shot in the stomach but was in stable condition, said her mother, Lisa Pfund of Random Lake, Wis.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/42p.jpg

"We know nothing, just that she was shot in the belly," Pfund said. She couldn't provide more details and only spoke with emergency personnel.

Ashley Saucedo told WOOD-TV in Michigan that her husband was shot in the arm, but she couldn't discuss specifics. Saucedo said she and the couple's two children weren't permitted to leave their home at Fort Hood during the shootings.

The motive for the shooting wasn't clear, but Hasan was apparently set to deploy soon, and had expressed some anger about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said generals at Fort Hood told her that Hasan was about to deploy overseas. Retired Col. Terry Lee, who said he had worked with Hasan, told Fox News he was being sent to Afghanistan.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/83p.jpg


Lee said Hasan had hoped Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq and got into frequent arguments with others in the military who supported the wars.

For six years before reporting for duty at Fort Hood, in July, the 39-year-old Army major worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center pursuing a career in psychiatry, as an intern, a resident and, last year, a fellow in disaster and preventive psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.

But his record wasn't sterling. At Walter Reed, he received a poor performance evaluation, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly. And while he was an intern, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.


http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/84p.jpg


At least six months ago, Hasan came to the attention of law enforcement officials because of Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats, including posts that equated suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save the lives of their comrades.

Investigators had not determined for certain whether Hasan was the author of the posting, and a formal investigation had not been opened before the shooting, said law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case.

___

Associated Press Writer Lara Jakes contributed to this report from Washington.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_fort_hood_shooting

^^ Mostly, mga bata pa yung mga sundalo na namatay at na sugatan, diyan dinadala kasi halos lahat ng ipadadala sa ME.


May they rest in peace.

Re: Philippine Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2009, 01:43:10 AM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How do these things work?

The UN pays for these missions right so I assume it's advantageous for the AFP to send as large a contingent as possible. Our soldiers get extra money PLUS the experience of working in a different environment (e.g. it's not everyday they get to operate in the desert or cold).

Would it not be good policy to send out several battalions of AFP and PNP personnel at any given time?


http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=17793.0


OUR TROOPS NEEDED THE CASH AND EXPERIENCE, WHY NOT LET THEM BECAME A UN PEACE KEEPER.

^^You and I were etching at the same point, hence the use of the emoticons to express my disdane and disbelief on the post I quoted...

^ Wow! Galing ah! Ni hindi nga malutas-lutas ang kaguluhan at gutom sa sariling bayan hayun ang Pinas volunteer nga volunteer........... hahay nako Gloria........

^^:wtf::doh: - translated as "What the F@#K and Duh" was NOT an acknowledgement of the statement above but was an expression of disbelief when the poster commented on something he did not fully understand. It was an attempt to elicit a more sensible reply from the poster however my emoticons obviously failed to serve it's purpose...Perhaps I was wrong in assuming that my sentiments were clear with mere emoticons alone.

Now whom among you are belonging to Forum Hoppers between timawa and SSC? :lol:

Now whom among you are belonging to Forum Hoppers between timawa and SSC? :lol:

Eventhough i am Indonesian, but i used to join timawa in year 2004/2005, even before Opus changed his forum into timawa, i already contributed a bit in his forum....if you remember, opus2495 forum...in 2002...yes, i was there too...

my nickname was polri....along with one malaysian friend...

cheers

Eventhough i am Indonesian, but i used to join timawa in year 2004/2005, even before Opus changed his forum into timawa, i already contributed a bit in his forum....if you remember, opus2495 forum...in 2002...yes, i was there too...

my nickname was polri....along with one malaysian friend...

cheers

Hello! Glad to hear some indonesian friends joining our military forum. Now you know how fucked up our defense forces, we only have ground forces, and still not enough toughness there, only experience thats all. What a shame eh? :ohno:

Hello! Glad to hear some indonesian friends joining our military forum. Now you know how fucked up our defense forces, we only have ground forces, and still not enough toughness there, only experience thats all. What a shame eh? :ohno:

what we should shamed about.......:)

the result ASEAN Army Rifle Meet 2009
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/880/aarm001.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3134/prizewinners1.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3493/prizewinners2.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1966/prizewinners3.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7412/prizewinners4.jpg

...and 1st winner
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7602/aarms09par0365image.jpg

what we should shamed about.......:)

the result ASEAN Army Rifle Meet 2009


^^And looking at the results, aint nothing to be proud of either.

Whatever happened to our boys marksmanship? Im gonna assume our crackshoots were busy down south to joint this competiton...:righton:

Manila, MILF rebels to resume peace talks


Thursday, 03 December 2009 00:00
BY AL JACINTO CORRESPONDENT
Manila Times

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group announced that it would resume peace talks next week with the Philippine government in an effort to end decades of bloody fighting in the restive southern region of Mindanao. Mohagher Iqbal, the chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on Wednesday said that the talks would restart on December 8 in Kuala Lumpur, with the Malaysian government as facilitator.

“We are happy and optimistic about the resumption of the peace talks. We are looking forward to resuming the negotiations with the Philippine government,” he told The Manila Times.

Iqbal said that the government and MILF peace panels have approved the establishment of the International Contact Group (ICG) composed of the United Kingdom, Japan, Turkey and Asia Foundation, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources and the Indonesian group Muhammadiyah as international nongovernment organization members.

He added that the contact group will meet in Manila on Friday to discuss the resumption of the peace talks.

“The formation of the ICG finally clears the way for the formal resumption of the peace talks, and the panels agreed to resume the conduct of the peace negotiations on December 8 and 9 in Kuala Lumpur,” Iqbal said.

According to him, the ICG serves as guarantee that the government and MILF would comply with all signed agreements. Iqbal was referring to the Muslim homeland deal initially signed by peace negotiators, but declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last year.

The failed signing of the homeland deal sparked a series of rebel attacks that killed and wounded dozens of civilians in Mindanao.

In October this year, the two sides also signed an accord ensuring the protection of civilians in areas in Mindanao where there is fighting.

“The Framework Agreement on the Formation of the International Contact Group and the Agreement on the Protection of Civilians are essential mechanisms to prevent the repeat of the debacle in Kuala Lumpur on August 5, 2008 when the memorandum of agreement on Ancestral Domain was not signed by the government, as well resulting in the displacement of more than 600,000 people in Mindanao,” Iqbal said.

The agreement on civilian protection reaffirmed the commitment of the MILF and the Philippine government for the observance of international humanitarian law and respect for internationally recognized human-rights instruments and the protection of internally displaced persons.

The government held peace talks with the MILF in 2001 in an effort to end decades of bloody Muslim secessionist war in the restive, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao in southern Philippines, where rebels are fighting for self-determination.

The two groups have designated humanitarian and nongovernment organizations, both international and national, with track record for impartiality, neutrality and independence, to carry out the civilian-protection functions.

The agreement on civilian protection will be incorporated in the Terms of Reference of the International Monitoring Team that would be discussed when the formal peace talks begin. The team was previously composed of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Libya and Japan.

Under the civilian-protection deal, the Philippine government and the rebels agreed to refrain from intentionally targeting or attacking non-combatants, prevent suffering of the civilian population and avoid acts that would cause collateral damage to civilians.

The two sides also agreed to take all precautions feasible to avoid incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and danger to civilian objects and to ensure that all protective and relief actions shall be undertaken in a purely non-discriminatory basis covering all affected communities.

They would also issue orders to their respective military units or security forces, including paramilitaries, associated militias and police units to conduct their operations consistent with their obligations and commitments described in the accord.
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nag plebo ako sa pma pero hindi ko na tinuloy. nanghihinayang ako.

wag ka maghinayang... with the current state of our military and what our politicians doing with the war in mindanao... you should be happy instead...

US suspends Mindanao development projects (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=529135&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated December 04, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The United States has indefinitely suspended their development projects in Maguindanao while the gruesome murder of 57 civilians and journalists is being investigated.

The US builds classrooms, libraries, and roads in one of the most impoverished areas in the country.

“What we have done is to suspend work for our projects in Maguindanao for a little bit just so we make sure that the security situation is safe. And I think anytime when you have a massacre like that, you don’t know who’s behind it or what happened. I don’t want any of our employees to get hurt,” US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said in an interview during the Christmas lighting event at the US embassy in Manila. She said the security situation in Maguindanao will be evaluated before work on the projects resumes.

“As soon as we evaluate the security situation. You know, on a case by case basis but frankly what’s most important is that they investigate and people be brought to justice,” she said.

The US government strongly condemned the massacre in Maguindanao. Washington has urged the Philippines to conduct a thorough, rapid, and transparent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed more soldiers to Maguindanao to heighten security in the region.

Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said the 33rd Infantry Battalion from Lanao del Sur was detailed to augment the forces already stationed in Shariff Aguak, the provincial capital where the Ampatuan mansion is located.

After the massacre, five infantry battalions and two companies of elite Scout Rangers and Special Forces were deployed to Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato.

Also sent to Maguindanao were two mechanized battalions equipped with armored vehicles.

“We have deployed more troops to secure the province and prevent other groups from taking advantage of the situation. Their mission is to secure the place and we need more forces just in case,” he said.

There are now at least 3,500 troops securing the three provinces.

Brawner said troops are also protecting the Ampatuans because their safety is being threatened by groups outside the Mangudadatu clan.

The military is also preparing for resistance from the supporters of the Ampatuan clan if they will be served arrest warrants tagging them in the massacre.

AFP National Capital Region Command chief Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu said intelligence units are monitoring developments in the province to determine if there is a possible spillover of atrocities to Metro Manila.

The AFP can supply its own battalion with weapons and ammos that was discovered in the Ampatuan's properties.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8549/232x244.jpg

Police investigators display weapons found buried near the residential complex of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao province, southern Philippines December 3, 2009. On Thursday, soldiers unearthed a large cache of weapons, including five mortars, four machineguns, three anti-tank bazookas, assault rifles, a 50-caliber sniper gun .

This will be a burden again in Teodoro's candidacy... :ohno:

Firearms found enough to supply a battalion—PNP chief

Weapons had defense, police markings

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 08:03:00 12/04/2009



MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 4) High-powered firearms, enough for one battalion, and which have the markings of “Department of National Defense and PNP [Philippine National Police] Camp Crame” were unearthed from the diggings near the compound of a powerful clan that has been linked to the election-related killings in Maguindanao in November, PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said Friday.

“Our estimate is that the weapons found are enough to arm one battalion,” Verzosa told a press conference, following reports from the military in Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao, that more sophisticated firearms were uncovered Thursday night in the area of Barrio 3, some 300 meters away from the compound of the Ampatuans.

Among those recovered were:
• 90-millimeter Recoiless Rifle (2),
• 57-mm Recoiless Rifle (1),
• 60-mm mortar tubes (3),
• M60 light machinegun (4),
• 8-mm mortar tubes (2),
• Caliber 50 Barret Siner rifle (1),
• Ultimax automatic rifle (1),
• Bushmaster 5.56mm rifle (1),
• Caliber 30 Browning Automatic Rifle (2),
• 7.62-mm FN FAL rifle, (1)
• AK 47 assault rifle (1),
• HK11 rifle (1),
• 5.56-mm M4 rifle (1),
• 9-mm pistols (4),
• Caliber 45 pistols (7),
• Boxes 5.56-mm. ammo (140),
• Spare barrel for caliber 50 machinegun (1),
• Bolt carrier for M16 (6),
• Assorted gunparts and magazine assemblies.

Also on Friday, illegal firearms—a 60-millimeter mortar, considered a “light weapon” —from one of the houses of the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak, the capital of the province.

Verzosa said “light weapons” should only be assigned and given to proper security forces and not in the hands of private persons or government officials.

“Light weapons are illegal. Light weapons ito ‘yong [these are] recoilless rifle, Barrett gun, mortar…It’s possible that it is sourced from other countries,” Verzosa told reporters.

Verzosa said, however, that he has yet to verify which of the four homes yielded the illegal weapon.

Earlier on Friday, on the strength of a search warrant issued by a local court, combined elements of the military and police raided the home of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., prime suspect in the massacre last November 23, amid reports that firearms were hidden in his house.

At least 57 people, including journalists, were killed in what has been considered the worst pre-election incidence of violence in the country.

But Verzosa said search warrants were also issued for the residences of Ampatuan patriarch Andal Sr. and two homes of Mamasapano Mayor Akmad Ampatuan.

Verzosa said the site where the high-powered weapons were found buried was “fresh.”

"We were able to trace kung saan nila inilibing ‘yong malalakas na armas na mukhang ginamit ng mga suspect sa [where they buried the high-powered firearms that were apparently used by the suspects in the massacre," Verzosa said.

“Sa ngayon wala pa tayong [At this point we have no] confirmation but we are looking at different information received by our office, especially the CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group]. Iti-trace nating lahat iyan [We will trace of all those]. We will try our best to trace the origin of these armaments,” said Verzosa.

"We believe that these were used during the massacre," Colonel Leo Ferrer, commander of an army brigade in the area who led the search, said in a separate interview over GMA Network.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2009/december/5/mainphoto.gif

Back-up force. Police take cover behind an armored personnel carrier as they search one of the four mansions of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao province, where they found stockpiles of firearms and ammunition. Froilan Gallardo, AP

This will be a burden again in Teodoro's candidacy... :ohno:

Firearms found enough to supply a battalion—PNP chief

Weapons had defense, police markings

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 08:03:00 12/04/2009



MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 4) High-powered firearms, enough for one battalion, and which have the markings of “Department of National Defense and PNP [Philippine National Police] Camp Crame” were unearthed from the diggings near the compound of a powerful clan that has been linked to the election-related killings in Maguindanao in November, PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said Friday.

“Our estimate is that the weapons found are enough to arm one battalion,” Verzosa told a press conference, following reports from the military in Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao, that more sophisticated firearms were uncovered Thursday night in the area of Barrio 3, some 300 meters away from the compound of the Ampatuans.

Among those recovered were:
• 90-millimeter Recoiless Rifle (2),
• 57-mm Recoiless Rifle (1),
• 60-mm mortar tubes (3),
• M60 light machinegun (4),
• 8-mm mortar tubes (2),
• Caliber 50 Barret Siner rifle (1),
• Ultimax automatic rifle (1),
• Bushmaster 5.56mm rifle (1),
• Caliber 30 Browning Automatic Rifle (2),
• 7.62-mm FN FAL rifle, (1)
• AK 47 assault rifle (1),
• HK11 rifle (1),
• 5.56-mm M4 rifle (1),
• 9-mm pistols (4),
• Caliber 45 pistols (7),
• Boxes 5.56-mm. ammo (140),
• Spare barrel for caliber 50 machinegun (1),
• Bolt carrier for M16 (6),
• Assorted gunparts and magazine assemblies.



Ang dami...:ohno:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8734/gen1.jpg

An APC is positioned at the entrance of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao compound in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao after the province was placed under martial law yesterday. AP

4 political groups to slug it out in voter-populated Cavite

By ANTHONY GIRON
December 6, 2009, 4:40pm
Manila Bulletin

The candidates of four big political groups are expected to fight it out in vote-rich Cavite.

The four are Liberal Party (LP) with Senator Noynoy Aquino as standard-bearer, Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel B. Villar Jr., Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Estrada and Lakas-Kampi-CMD of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

The officials and the electorate considered the candidates of the four groups as provincial election favorites. LP and NP have fielded the most number of candidates in Cavite, a province with the highest number of registered voters in the country.

Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr., local Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor, said there are over 1.6 million voters in the province’s 19 towns and four cities.

Ravanzo said there are six groups vying in the electoral race in the province. The two others are Alpha Omega 9-K and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

Comelec Assistants Maria Rowena Jarin and Melenita Alfider said eighty-three candidates are competing for 23 provincial positions in Cavite.

LP has fielded 18 candidates, NP 16, Lakas-Kampi 13, PMP 11, AO-9K 8, KBL 3 and Aksyon Demokratiko 1. The rest of the candidates are running as independents, it was learned.

Ravanzo said no candidate is running unopposed in any elective positions in the province.

The electorate considered incumbent Vice Governor Dencito Campaña of LP, former Vice Governor Juanito Victor Remulla of NP and Trece Martires City Mayor Melencio de Sagun of PMP as top contenders in the gubernatorial race. For vice-governor are Bimbo Bautista of NP, Recto Cantimbuhan of LP, Rogelio A. Pureza of PMP.

The electorate is expecting a neck-and-neck race among the candidates.

The political mettle of Campaña will be tested against Remulla, who is the youngest gubernatorial candidate, and Sagun, the so-called dark horse in the race.

Campaña, a former board member, was unopposed when he ran for vice governor in 2007 elections. Remulla, 42, was vice governor for three terms, starting in 1998, while Sagun was elected three times as mayor of Trece Martires, the site of the Cavite Provincial Capitol.

They will fight for the post that would be vacated by Governor Ayong S. Maliksi. Maliksi, who was elected for three terms in the top provincial position, is running for congressman in the newly-reconstituted district of Imus, the province’s capital.

Other notable candidates in the province are movie and television personality Lani-Mercado, wife of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is vying for a congressional seat in Bacoor; 2nd District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga who will for congressman in the new Dasmariñas City district and movie character actor John Regala who is vying for a board seat in Imus district.

Ravanzo said earlier he sees HOPE (an acronym for happy, orderly and peaceful elections) with the candidates vying for various positions in the province.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2009/december/5/mainphoto.gif

Back-up force. Police take cover behind an armored personnel carrier as they search one of the four mansions of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak,

I'm not a military tactician, but that defensive position that the soldiers are into looks very vulnerable. Isang RPG lang na patalbugin sa wall ng building will cause heavy casualties, no need for the RPG gunner to hit the armored vehicle.


On another news, more firearms and ammos were discovered in another location owned by the Ampatuans.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00MSfhjf9n6Cp/610x.jpg

^^ While the gov't is busy disarming the Ampatuans, pano naman yung ibang politicians around the country who have their own private army?

I'm not a military tactician, but that defensive position that the soldiers are into looks very vulnerable. Isang RPG lang na patalbugin sa wall ng building will cause heavy casualties, no need for the RPG gunner to hit the armored vehicle.


we've seen that many many times now... pati ung pag "salakay" nila sa Manila Pen...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_04/HotelSiegeAP_800x527.jpg
from dailymail

grabe ang casualty dito kung meron lang RPG sila Trillanes nuon...:ohno:

:cheers:

Wala nga eh, kaya ganyan sila:D

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In fighting form. Soldiers in flip-flops rushed forward with an armored personnel carrier to help their comrades, who were pursuing unidentified armed men Monday in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. PAT ROQUE, AP

we've seen that many many times now... pati ung pag "salakay" nila sa Manila Pen...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_04/HotelSiegeAP_800x527.jpg
from dailymail

grabe ang casualty dito kung meron lang RPG sila Trillanes nuon...:ohno:

:cheers:

Never knew a platoon can fit behind a pickup...this should be a guinessbook entry or something...I dont think this pick up is the only cover avilable around, which makes one wonder why on earth are they cramming behind it...:nuts:

we've seen that many many times now... pati ung pag "salakay" nila sa Manila Pen...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_04/HotelSiegeAP_800x527.jpg
from dailymail

grabe ang casualty dito kung meron lang RPG sila Trillanes nuon...:ohno:

:cheers:

Puro duwag un mga sundalo :lol:. Kay dami daming cover, sa revo pa sila nagsiksikan...:nuts:

Ang e-engot naman :lol:

The attack on a convoy of political activists and journalists in Mindanao that left 57 dead was made possible by a culture of impunity and clan feuds.
By W. Scott Thompson

Writing From Manila - There's a tendency for eyes to glaze over when reports of violence in the Philippines are reported. "Sorry for the redundancy," we say. But the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people merits consideration. The victims were supporters and local journalists accompanying a woman on her way to file nomination papers for her husband's run for provincial governor on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The candidate had reportedly received death threats, and some authorities called this a politically motivated attack. The provincial governor and his son, leaders of the Ampatuan clan, are among those held in the case.

How was such an attack possible?

There are three reasons. First, the culture of impunity wherever President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is involved. Second, the culture of rido, or clan feuds, in Mindanao, and third, defects in the Filipino judicial system.

It is almost unbelievable, but a presidential spokesperson all but whitewashed the massacre in a news conference. The Ampatuan clan, Arroyo's chief ally in Mindanao, was instrumental in helping her gain the "1-million" vote majority that she demanded of her election commissioner in the 2004 election. It is Mindanao where vote swings occur; the government can even decide which vote-laden planes can land, former government officials who asked not to be named have told me.

The deputy press spokesperson said that she didn't think "the president's friendship with the Ampatuans will be severed." She further said that "just because they're in this situation doesn't mean we will turn our backs on them." She explained that Arroyo, in her role as chief executive, acts separately from her role in sustaining political alliances, and thus she could still be "friends" with the family even if "they indeed committed the crime."

Of course, once reality set it and there was a huge international outcry, Arroyo had to take at least cosmetic steps to separate herself from her Ampatuan allies (ousting them from her political party, a meaningless gesture).

That is a sufficient explanation of the massacre: The Ampatuans assumed they could get away with it, given the 16 leadership positions they hold on the huge island, including two governorships.

A Pulse Asia survey in 2007 found Arroyo to be the most corrupt president in Filipino history. They're wrong; Ferdinand Marcos, who reportedly looted up to $30 billion, was worse, but then we're talking about perceptions with Arroyo. The ZTE case, involving a broadband contract with a Chinese company in which Arroyo's husband and others reportedly sought a 130% kickback for friends and his family, is the kind of corruption on people's minds. The usual cut in past foreign investments has been 20%. An insider said in a not-for-attribution interview that, in prosecuting the case, government officials were merely trying to "limit the greed" of the first family. Indeed.

The second factor in this massacre is rido, or clan-based violence. A study published by the Asia Foundation and conducted by Moctar I. Matuan of Mindanao State University-Marawi found that in 337 rido cases from 1994 to 2004, 798 people died and 104 were injured. Although 82 cases were filed in court, only eight assailants were imprisoned. "Not a single rido was settled by the Philippine justice system," he said.

In southern Mindanao, if you are in power, you've got both guns and patronage. Even the backhoe used to dig the trench in which the bodies were found had the name of Gov. Andal Ampatuan, the clan patriarch, on it.

Third, the judicial system as a whole shares the blame. It's slow enough even under a reformist president trying to clean up the police and courts, as in the 1990s under Fidel V. Ramos. But the standards set at Malacanang Palace then at least slowed down violence and ended extrajudicial killings by presidential hirelings. Ramos was succeeded by a buffoon, the actor Joseph "Erap" Estrada, whose ouster was in part the result of a brutal killing of an advisor to his opponents. During Arroyo's presidency, more than 1,000 killings and abductions of nongovernmental organization workers and journalists have occurred, according to one United Nations report. It's rather hard to stand up for order and justice when things like that happen -- and could not have happened, it appears, without a blessing from on high.

The corruption spills down to the lowest levels, and I speak from personal experience. A group of six men broke into my house up to 20 times over a one-year period and stole my car and credit cards. A provincial court found nothing wrong with this, but finally, after more than two years and a long appeal, the Department of Justice decided that there was something wrong.

These men have finally been charged. None of them has shown any contrition. At least two have justified their alleged crimes on the basis that I am not a Filipino and therefore justice does not apply.

At one point, an older official, who was examining my complaint on one of the break-ins, said, "This will take 10,000 pesos, and I can't guarantee that we won't need more as it goes up the system." That's about $210 -- just to get him to consider the case. Happily, the younger officials are more idealistic -- and none I've encountered was interested in bribes.

What is needed in the Philippines is a truly clean sweep. That is why the whole political system has been focused on Arroyo's attempts -- by any means -- to stay in office past her "elected" term ending in June. But it should have been focused on abuse throughout the Philippines. The Mindanao massacre wouldn't have happened had the chief executive been doing her job. Rido is just a symptom of a system where abuse starts at the top.

W. Scott Thompson, professor emeritus of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, is an expert on Southeast Asia now living in Bali and Manila.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-thompson8-2009dec08,0,5789237.story



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Photos too gory.
Please remove.

Photos too gory.
Please remove.

ok, removed already. maganda sana yaong may gory photos para hindi
isipin ng iba na hindi totoong massacre ang nangyari.

ok, removed already. maganda sana yaong may gory photos para hindi
isipin ng iba na hindi totoong massacre ang nangyari.

If the images are too gory for the public, why don't you provide the link and disclaimer instead. :D

This was done to provide the US forces and US private companies like Exxon-Mobil a convenient airstrip for aircrafts going to the soon to be the most lucrative oil well in the Philippines off Sulu Sea.

At this moment, Exxon and Philippine officials still have to go to Sandakan, malaysia to fly to the oil rig of Exxon.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2009/december/9/mainphoto.gif

Ready for takeoff. Before-and-after photos of the Jolo airport runway show the extent of the improvement done by a joint RP-US partnership on Sulu island’s lone airport. The old airport runway (upper photo) was extended to 1,845 meters from 1,200 and widened to 30 meters from 18, and is now an all-concrete runway (lower photo) that can accommodate bigger planes such as the Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s. The airport improvement was a joint project of the Transport Department, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the US Agency for International Development.

After all, there is no such thing as free lunch, even the Japan funded SCTEX.

:lol: Mas malakas pa ata sila sa NPA at Abu Sayaf, look at these new discovered military toys:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/051t4dT2HW8hz/232x337.jpg?center=0.5,0 http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dJp1IR7vT6AD/232x343.jpg?center=0.5,0

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:D Isa sa mga 50 Cal. Machine Guns.... diyos ko po!!! Mas kelangan na kelangan ng mga sundalo natin ang mga ito... it looks more of a retrieval weapons mission ang ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan, tapos na ang renta ng mga Ampatuan sa mga gamit ng AFP. :lol:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a93bBT3xpbDh/610x.jpg

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, left, looks at one of the .50 caliber machine guns recovered by the military near the house of one of the member of a powerful clan Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 in Shariff Aguak .

Never knew a platoon can fit behind a pickup...this should be a guinessbook entry or something...I dont think this pick up is the only cover avilable around, which makes one wonder why on earth are they cramming behind it...:nuts:

Alin po yung pickup, yung Toyota Revo with plate number WLS 748? AUV po classfication nya hindi pickup. :D

Nakaktuwa, meh taong naka videocam kasama yung mga tropa

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/051t4dT2HW8hz/232x337.jpg?center=0.5,0

I wonder what's the name of white ammo on this picture.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a93bBT3xpbDh/610x.jpg

Holy ----! Browning M2!.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/051t4dT2HW8hz/232x337.jpg?center=0.5,0

I wonder what's the name of white ammo on this picture.


They look like Rockets used by helicopters or illuminating rockets fired from a smooth bore mortar tube.

Hahaha, Supalpal ang walang kwentang army natin! Not only that, nabuko lahat ng raket nila tunkol sa "missing" ammunition nila!

kawawang philippine military... kawawang mga sundalo...

Anong kawawa ang Philippine Military? Sila may kasalanan nito to begin with... Ang kawawa dito ay ang mga sundalo lang..

Tapos sinisisi sa MNLF, MILF at mga Muslim ang kaguluhan sa MINDANAO. :ohno:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6167/startoonh.gif

EDITORIAL -

Armed forces on the cheap

(The Philippine Star)
Updated December 12, 2009 12:00 AM

As government forces hunted down the militiamen involved in the Maguindanao massacre, another militia group went on a rampage in Agusan del Sur. The provincial police reported that about 15 armed men raided the New Maasim Elementary School in Barangay San Martin Thursday morning and seized 75 hostages, including school children, teachers and the principal. As of late yesterday afternoon, the raiders still had over 40 hostages.

Police said the raiders demanded speedier justice for the killing of their Manobo chieftain and three other tribal members in a clan war over access to logging areas. The raiders were armed with M-14 and M-16 weapons — apparently their keepsakes from their days as members of the Civilian Volunteer Organizations. The CVOs were created by virtue of Executive Order 546, issued by President Arroyo in July 2006, effectively allowing local executives to arm civilian volunteers for use as “force multipliers” against security threats. The EO went around a constitutional ban on private armed groups.

In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Ampatuan clan used the CVOs as weapons against the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front and threats to public safety. The CVOs received weapons and ammunition from the state, as the high-powered guns and crates of ammunition unearthed in Maguindanao have shown. Witnesses told investigators that CVO members made up the bulk of the group that slaughtered 57 people, 30 of them media workers, on a hillside in Ampatuan town on Nov. 23.

During the Marcos regime, some of the worst human rights abuses were also committed by militiamen belonging to what at the time was called the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units. As in the case of the Ampatuans’ CVO, CAFGU members functioned as private armies of politicians. With no formal training in military or police work, and often with limited formal education, CAFGU members believed power emanated from the barrel of a gun, and behaved accordingly. CVO members have the same mindset.

Following the Maguindanao massacre, some government officials are again making noises about dismantling private armed groups. Such pronouncements are unlikely to go beyond rhetoric. The Ampatuans’ private army will simply be replaced by that of another group of ARMM politicians. The militias are organized in countries that fail to invest sufficiently in developing credible, professional military and police forces. The CVOs function as armed forces on the cheap. We get what we pay for.

Alin po yung pickup, yung Toyota Revo with plate number WLS 748? AUV po classfication nya hindi pickup. :D

Nakaktuwa, meh taong naka videocam kasama yung mga tropa

^^I stand corrected...

we've seen that many many times now... pati ung pag "salakay" nila sa Manila Pen...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_04/HotelSiegeAP_800x527.jpg
from dailymail

grabe ang casualty dito kung meron lang RPG sila Trillanes nuon...:ohno:

:cheers:

kawawa! they look so stupid...

^^ It's just a mere instinct in self defense. "I'll watch your back and you watch mine" or "Holy Shitssss, take cover" --- :lol:

Kaso sangkatutak sila... :D

but still, the thoughts of self preservation is there, hindi yung mag pakabayani lahat na parang Clint Eastwood na sina salubong ang mga bala sa pelikula. :D

1 bomba lang, tapos ang laban. Haaayz

we've seen that many many times now... pati ung pag "salakay" nila sa Manila Pen...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_04/HotelSiegeAP_800x527.jpg
from dailymail

grabe ang casualty dito kung meron lang RPG sila Trillanes nuon...:ohno:

:cheers:

very funny but sad.:nuts: from the looks of it, its a standard CQB initial entry assault formation. pansin nyo yung rear guard? kaso nasa labas pa lang sila.:bash:

sop din yan na hindi magkumpol2x eh... para hind maging inviting target... isang magazine ng bala from an m16 sa kumpol na yan... malamang marami matatamaan.

By hellstrom94 from timawa.net:

The much awaiting 6 new upgraded M113's for Philippine Army have arrived and delivered from Turkey:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009019.jpg
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ILS
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009020.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009032.jpg

AFP official: Power struggle root cause of political violence (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/mb/20091216/tph-afp-official-power-struggle-root-cau-020e1c8.html)
Manila Bulletin - Wednesday, December 16

BAGUIO CITY - The struggle for power instead of service to the public is the root cause of political violence that has affected the country's political system over the past several decades because of perceived absolute rights as an offshoot of democracy, the commanding officer of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army said here Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Romel Gomez said political violence is among the major setbacks to the peace and order initiatives of the national government which must be stopped by concerned authorities in their respective levels, especially in introducing development efforts to benefit the people.

The official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted peace cannot be achieved through the use of guns and bullets alone but it must have with it corresponding development initiatives by local governments and concerned national government agencies through the infusion of funding for infrastructure projects in order to attract prospective investors.

The 5th Infantry Division, based in Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamo, Isabela, covers the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan regions and parts of Region III.

While the police and military will again be deployed to prevent the occurrence of political violence in Northern Luzon, including the Cordillera, Gomez appealed to prospective candidates for the upcoming May 2010 synchronized and automated elections to give up their greed for power and allow their constituents to decide on their fate.

If feuding politicians insist on employing harassment to their constituents just to get their votes, the Army official warned they will not hesitate to enforce the full force of the law on them so that peace and order will continue to reign in identified conflict-stricken areas such as Abra and Kalinga in the Cordillera and some provinces in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley.

Vietnam defense minister meets key US senators (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/afp/20091215/tap-vietnam-military-us-france-china-pol-8569f9c.html)
Agence France-Presse - Wednesday, December 16

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Vietnam's defence minister, making a rare visit to the United States, met Tuesday with a key US Senator who called ties between the two former war foes "very important."

General Phung Quang Thanh met with Democratic Senator Jim Webb, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, and was to meet with Senator John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee's top Republican.

"It is vitally important that the United States engage with Southeast Asia at all levels," Webb, a former Marine who served in the Vietnam war and visited Hanoi in August, said after his roughly 35-minute meeting.

"I have worked for many years to build a bridge between Vietnam and the United States. It is a very important relationship," Webb said through a spokeswoman.

McCain is also a Vietnam war veteran who spent five and a half years as a prisoner after being shot down over Hanoi.

Vietnamese media have underlined that Thanh was just the second Vietnamese defence minister to visit the US since the two countries normalized relations in 1995, 20 years after the Vietnam War.

The visit came after a long-standing dispute between China and Vietnam over ownership of the Paracels and a more southerly archipelago, the Spratleys, escalated earlier this year.




Vietnam orders Russian submarines, fighter jets (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20091216/tap-as-vietnam-russia-weapons-9a7ed42.html)
Associated Press - Thursday, December 17

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam has ordered submarines and fighter jets from Russia, its former communist ally, the government announced Wednesday, in a deal reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The agreement was made Tuesday during a visit to Moscow by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Vietnam's government said on its official Web site.

Vietnam also invited Russia to help build its first nuclear power plant, the Web site said, providing no further details. Vietnam hopes to begin construction of the plant in 2014 and put it on line by 2020.

Vietnamese officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official as saying Russia will sell Vietnam six diesel-electric "Project 636" Varshavyanka submarines for a total of $2 billion. The submarines are also known by their NATO nickname, "Kilos."

Interfax also quoted an unidentified Russian official as saying that Vietnam would purchase 12 more Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter jets for $600 million, in addition to eight others it has already ordered.

Russian Defense Ministry officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the report.

Several Vietnamese lawmakers have recently called for the modernization of Vietnam's modest navy. The deal comes amid rising tensions between Vietnam and China over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea.

Both Vietnam and China claim the island chains. Several other Asian countries also claim part or all of the Spratlys.

In October, Vietnam demanded China investigate alleged beatings and robbery by armed Chinese personnel of Vietnamese fishermen who sought shelter on the Paracels during a typhoon.

Vietnam defense minister meets key US senators (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/afp/20091215/tap-vietnam-military-us-france-china-pol-8569f9c.html)
Agence France-Presse - Wednesday, December 16

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Vietnam's defence minister, making a rare visit to the United States, met Tuesday with a key US Senator who called ties between the two former war foes "very important."

General Phung Quang Thanh met with Democratic Senator Jim Webb, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, and was to meet with Senator John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee's top Republican.

"It is vitally important that the United States engage with Southeast Asia at all levels," Webb, a former Marine who served in the Vietnam war and visited Hanoi in August, said after his roughly 35-minute meeting.

"I have worked for many years to build a bridge between Vietnam and the United States. It is a very important relationship," Webb said through a spokeswoman.

McCain is also a Vietnam war veteran who spent five and a half years as a prisoner after being shot down over Hanoi.

Vietnamese media have underlined that Thanh was just the second Vietnamese defence minister to visit the US since the two countries normalized relations in 1995, 20 years after the Vietnam War.

The visit came after a long-standing dispute between China and Vietnam over ownership of the Paracels and a more southerly archipelago, the Spratleys, escalated earlier this year.




Vietnam orders Russian submarines, fighter jets (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20091216/tap-as-vietnam-russia-weapons-9a7ed42.html)
Associated Press - Thursday, December 17

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam has ordered submarines and fighter jets from Russia, its former communist ally, the government announced Wednesday, in a deal reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The agreement was made Tuesday during a visit to Moscow by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Vietnam's government said on its official Web site.

Vietnam also invited Russia to help build its first nuclear power plant, the Web site said, providing no further details. Vietnam hopes to begin construction of the plant in 2014 and put it on line by 2020.

Vietnamese officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official as saying Russia will sell Vietnam six diesel-electric "Project 636" Varshavyanka submarines for a total of $2 billion. The submarines are also known by their NATO nickname, "Kilos."

Interfax also quoted an unidentified Russian official as saying that Vietnam would purchase 12 more Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter jets for $600 million, in addition to eight others it has already ordered.

Russian Defense Ministry officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the report.

Several Vietnamese lawmakers have recently called for the modernization of Vietnam's modest navy. The deal comes amid rising tensions between Vietnam and China over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea.

Both Vietnam and China claim the island chains. Several other Asian countries also claim part or all of the Spratlys.

In October, Vietnam demanded China investigate alleged beatings and robbery by armed Chinese personnel of Vietnamese fishermen who sought shelter on the Paracels during a typhoon.

What are you smoking boy? This is philippine defense forces thread not an international military defense issue.

these are not M113 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier)'s. these are AIFV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM765_Armoured_Infantry_Fighting_Vehicle)s

another AIFV link here (http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/supplement/lav/lav_aifv.shtml)

By hellstrom94 from timawa.net:

The much awaiting 6 new upgraded M113's for Philippine Army have arrived and delivered from Turkey:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009019.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009018.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009023.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009024.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009025.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009027.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/hellstrom94/Delivery/02122009028.jpg

Sayyaf co-founder arrested in Indonesia, deported
By Rudy Santos (The Philippine Star) Updated December 17, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A founding member of the Abu Sayyaf was arrested and deported yesterday by the Indonesian government to face prosecution in the Philippines for several crimes, including the kidnapping of several guests and workers in a Palawan resort on May 27, 2001.

Among the victims were contractor Reghis Romero II and American missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham. Baser Sulaiman Latip, alias Rahim Malik Suwaib, was escorted back to the Philippines by Jose de Guzman of the Philippine Consulate in Jakarta and Superintendent Roel de Leon, attaché of the Philippine National Police. They arrived on

Philippine Airlines flight PR-536 at 5:42 a.m. yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Centennial Airport.

Ferdinand Sampol, Immigration Airport Operations chief, said Latip, who was handcuffed, was received by immigration officer Mhel de Castro and National Bureau

of Investigation (NBI) agents Alex Bautista and Roger Susuco.

Latip was brought to the NBI office escorted by armed operatives. While most of those kidnapped in Palawan were murdered or freed after ransom was paid, the Burnhams were held captive for a year and a few days. In a rescue operation by the military on June 7, 2002, Martin was killed, while Gracia suffered a gunshot wound in the right thigh.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly offered a $1.5-million reward

for Latip’s arrest. Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, regional director and chief of the NBI’s Counter Terrorism Unit, said Latip is well- known in Basilan and Zamboanga, being a member

of the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro National Liberation Front. “Latip’s involvement was not as fighter but as a finance officer and the conduit for al-Qaeda member Muhamad Jamal

Khalifa to facilitate transfer of Saudi funds to the ASG and other groups,” said an NBI report. – With Sandy Araneta

these are not M113 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier)'s. these are AIFV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM765_Armoured_Infantry_Fighting_Vehicle)s

another AIFV link here (http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/supplement/lav/lav_aifv.shtml)

Next time bro alamin mo binabasa mo, tsaka magpbasa ka ng maigi sa mga previous given posts, ok? Like what i posted (#76) from the other page, THESE are UPGRADED M113's:

The AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a tracked light armoured vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armoured personnel carrier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIFV

M113A1 APC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier

Next time bro alamin mo binabasa mo, tsaka magpbasa ka ng maigi sa mga previous given posts, ok? Like what i posted (#76) from the other page, THESE are UPGRADED M113's:

The AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a tracked light armoured vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armoured personnel carrier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIFV

M113A1 APC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier

i see, kasi pag sinabi m113 ang naalala ko kasi ay yung slabsided APCs

so if your sources say that our slabsides have been upgraded to an aifv variant, then you are right

i saw a few pictures of aifvs with the cannon mount, bakit walang cannon mount sila ngayon? mahal ba ang cannon at ammo niya?

i see, kasi pag sinabi m113 ang naalala ko kasi ay yung slabsided APCs

so if your sources say that our slabsides have been upgraded to an aifv variant, then you are right

i saw a few pictures of aifvs with the cannon mount, bakit walang cannon mount sila ngayon? mahal ba ang cannon at ammo niya?

Mas mahal yung ganung variant. Alam mo naman ang gobyerno natin, laging sinasabing, "wala tayong pera..." which in truth, nawawalan kasi binubulsa ng mga ibang gagong opisyal jan, kung san san kasi dumadaan yung mga papeles na kelangan pirmahan, mroe than a dozen people have to authorize it. And each person, will ask for a "slide", kung baga xtra money, bayad/patong or whatever terms they call it there. Imagine that. :bash:

But we do have atleast one of those upgraded M113's with a scorpion turret.

If you like to be updated more with accurate knowledge about our military, join the timawa.net forum (http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php). We'll see you there, but i have to warn you to be reasonable all the time, and mostly, always backup your statements with some hard facts. You'll see what i mean when you join. :cheers:

But we do have atleast one of those upgraded M113's with a scorpion turret.


Photo courtesy of Adroth from timawa:
http://adroth.ph/AFP/pa/m113/fsv.jpg

these are not M113 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier)'s. these are AIFV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM765_Armoured_Infantry_Fighting_Vehicle)s

another AIFV link here (http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/supplement/lav/lav_aifv.shtml)

malakas na tayo sa army....dapat sa airforce at navy nman...dahil dun tayo kulang sa materiel...planes and ships...

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss56/boomstick54/md520.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UmCuOJY650o/SZ_CEW6p4jI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/0pSSUCoc7ro/s320/MG520+in+Zambo+002.jpg

haaaayz tutubing kayarom :c

may naging customer ako dito sa shop member ng PAF how he wish na makapagpalipad din daw sya ng mga bagong aircraft bago sya mag retire.

He's only 35 years old, palagay nyo kaya pa?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss56/boomstick54/md520.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UmCuOJY650o/SZ_CEW6p4jI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/0pSSUCoc7ro/s320/MG520+in+Zambo+002.jpg

haaaayz tutubing kayarom :c

may naging customer ako dito sa shop member ng PAF how he wish na makapagpalipad din daw sya ng mga bagong aircraft bago sya mag retire.

He's only 35 years old, palagay nyo kaya pa?

In 20 yrs, siguro naman, well hopefully.

I like your shots, can i share them with timawa forum? Tnx! :cheers:

well kung si gibo mananalo....malamang matuloy na ang modernization ng military.....siya lang ang meron platform na kasama ang pagpapatatag ng external defense....sa internal defense natin...accepted na natin yun na kaya ng military itong mga pasaway nating mga kapatid na npa, mi at abu...they cannot claim to hold territory....the moment na nag claim sila na sa kanila na ito....sandali lang ma takeover ng afp...the afp has shown it before....sa panahon ni erap...(yun lang ang maganda sa panahon ng erap presidency)

PAF (Philippine Air force) orders 8 new PZL W-3WA Sokół
PZL Swidnik won 2.8 Billion bid

December 21, 2009

Manila- The Philippine Air Force has officially ordered eight (8) W-3 Sokół combat utility helicopter from manufacturer WSK-PZL Świdnik S.A of Poland in a deal worth two billion eight hundred fifty seven million eight hundred sixty four thousand six hundred twenty five pesos (P2,857,864,625.18). Defense Secretary Norberto B. Gonzales announced the award for the combat utility helicopter during the weekend.

The W-3WA Sokół (falcon) made its first flight on July 30, 1992 and has a capacity for two crew and twelve passengers. The W-3WA has been certified by US FAR Pt 29 standards granted in May 1993 and European certification granted in December 1993.

"This is the culmination of our negotiation with the supplier. Secretary Teodoro approved the negotiated procurement of P3 billion worth of combat utility helicopters last June after two successive failure of bidding process." Secretary Gonzales said.

"The project has been two years overdue and I think its about time" says Gonzales after awarding the contract to Warsaw based helicopter manufacturer.

The budget for the combat utility helicopter (CUH) project had been released by Malacanang as early as 2007 but no firm has submitted bid proposal according to specifications and budget in two succeeding bids. The budget was part of the P5-billion modernization fund for 2007 aimed to replaced UH-1H Huey helicopters in the Air Force Fleet.

“PZL was found to have the best possible offer based on the budget so after extensive negotiation we awarded it to them” said Gonzales.

The Department of Defense is also acquiring P3 billion worth of night capable attack (NCAH) helicopters, whose bidding had also failed twice. Gonzales said that a negotiated procurement with the US Department of Defense for the purchase of second-hand attack helicopters with the same night capability is already in the works and they are hoping to seal the deal before President Arroyo's term end.

The P3 billion fund was originally part of the P5 billion budget released by President Arroyo for the purchase of combat utility and night-capable attack helicopters that formed part of the AFP Capability Upgrade Program. Additional budget of 1 billion was appropriated by the President this year adding more fund to the project.

A total of 34 priority items are included in the first phase of the re-prioritized AFP CUP shopping list, 62 in Phase 2, and 39 items in Phase 2-B.


Technical data for PZL Swidnik W-3

Engine: 2 x PZL-10V turboshaft, rated at 662kW, main rotor diameter: 15.7m, length with rotors turning: 18.79m, fuselage length: 14.21m, height: 4.2m, take-off weight: 6400kg, empty weight: 3630kg, cruising speed: 238km/h, hovering ceiling, IGE: 3200m, range: 745km, payload: 2100kg,

PAF (Philippine Air force) orders 8 new PZL W-3WA Sokół
PZL Swidnik won 2.8 Billion bid

December 21, 2009

Manila- The Philippine Air Force has officially ordered eight (8) W-3 Sokół combat utility helicopter from manufacturer WSK-PZL Świdnik S.A of Poland in a deal worth two billion eight hundred fifty seven million eight hundred sixty four thousand six hundred twenty five pesos (P2,857,864,625.18). Defense Secretary Norberto B. Gonzales announced the award for the combat utility helicopter during the weekend.

The W-3WA Sokół (falcon) made its first flight on July 30, 1992 and has a capacity for two crew and twelve passengers. The W-3WA has been certified by US FAR Pt 29 standards granted in May 1993 and European certification granted in December 1993.

"This is the culmination of our negotiation with the supplier. Secretary Teodoro approved the negotiated procurement of P3 billion worth of combat utility helicopters last June after two successive failure of bidding process." Secretary Gonzales said.

"The project has been two years overdue and I think its about time" says Gonzales after awarding the contract to Warsaw based helicopter manufacturer.

The budget for the combat utility helicopter (CUH) project had been released by Malacanang as early as 2007 but no firm has submitted bid proposal according to specifications and budget in two succeeding bids. The budget was part of the P5-billion modernization fund for 2007 aimed to replaced UH-1H Huey helicopters in the Air Force Fleet.

“PZL was found to have the best possible offer based on the budget so after extensive negotiation we awarded it to them” said Gonzales.

The Department of Defense is also acquiring P3 billion worth of night capable attack (NCAH) helicopters, whose bidding had also failed twice. Gonzales said that a negotiated procurement with the US Department of Defense for the purchase of second-hand attack helicopters with the same night capability is already in the works and they are hoping to seal the deal before President Arroyo's term end.

The P3 billion fund was originally part of the P5 billion budget released by President Arroyo for the purchase of combat utility and night-capable attack helicopters that formed part of the AFP Capability Upgrade Program. Additional budget of 1 billion was appropriated by the President this year adding more fund to the project.

A total of 34 priority items are included in the first phase of the re-prioritized AFP CUP shopping list, 62 in Phase 2, and 39 items in Phase 2-B.


Technical data for PZL Swidnik W-3

Engine: 2 x PZL-10V turboshaft, rated at 662kW, main rotor diameter: 15.7m, length with rotors turning: 18.79m, fuselage length: 14.21m, height: 4.2m, take-off weight: 6400kg, empty weight: 3630kg, cruising speed: 238km/h, hovering ceiling, IGE: 3200m, range: 745km, payload: 2100kg,

hayy...salamat nagkaron din nga bago....na hindi made in the u.s....this is an example of diversification para hindi tayo palaging dependent sa kano....pagsinabi ng kano na putol na support sa inyo...wla ng makakalipad sa atin mga air assets....good work GIBO good work....at kay pgma din....when kaya ito deliverable...

PAF (Philippine Air force) orders 8 new PZL W-3WA Sokół
PZL Swidnik won 2.8 Billion bid

December 21, 2009

Manila- The Philippine Air Force has officially ordered eight (8) W-3 Sokół combat utility helicopter from manufacturer WSK-PZL Świdnik S.A of Poland in a deal worth two billion eight hundred fifty seven million eight hundred sixty four thousand six hundred twenty five pesos (P2,857,864,625.18). Defense Secretary Norberto B. Gonzales announced the award for the combat utility helicopter during the weekend.

The W-3WA Sokół (falcon) made its first flight on July 30, 1992 and has a capacity for two crew and twelve passengers. The W-3WA has been certified by US FAR Pt 29 standards granted in May 1993 and European certification granted in December 1993.

"This is the culmination of our negotiation with the supplier. Secretary Teodoro approved the negotiated procurement of P3 billion worth of combat utility helicopters last June after two successive failure of bidding process." Secretary Gonzales said.

"The project has been two years overdue and I think its about time" says Gonzales after awarding the contract to Warsaw based helicopter manufacturer.

The budget for the combat utility helicopter (CUH) project had been released by Malacanang as early as 2007 but no firm has submitted bid proposal according to specifications and budget in two succeeding bids. The budget was part of the P5-billion modernization fund for 2007 aimed to replaced UH-1H Huey helicopters in the Air Force Fleet.

“PZL was found to have the best possible offer based on the budget so after extensive negotiation we awarded it to them” said Gonzales.

The Department of Defense is also acquiring P3 billion worth of night capable attack (NCAH) helicopters, whose bidding had also failed twice. Gonzales said that a negotiated procurement with the US Department of Defense for the purchase of second-hand attack helicopters with the same night capability is already in the works and they are hoping to seal the deal before President Arroyo's term end.

The P3 billion fund was originally part of the P5 billion budget released by President Arroyo for the purchase of combat utility and night-capable attack helicopters that formed part of the AFP Capability Upgrade Program. Additional budget of 1 billion was appropriated by the President this year adding more fund to the project.

A total of 34 priority items are included in the first phase of the re-prioritized AFP CUP shopping list, 62 in Phase 2, and 39 items in Phase 2-B.


Technical data for PZL Swidnik W-3

Engine: 2 x PZL-10V turboshaft, rated at 662kW, main rotor diameter: 15.7m, length with rotors turning: 18.79m, fuselage length: 14.21m, height: 4.2m, take-off weight: 6400kg, empty weight: 3630kg, cruising speed: 238km/h, hovering ceiling, IGE: 3200m, range: 745km, payload: 2100kg,

Great news!!!:cheers:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg/800px-W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg

PZL W-3WA Sokół

source: wikipedia

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg/800px-W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg

PZL W-3WA Sokół

source: wikipedia

WOW KICKASS....:banana: wooohhoooooo sa wakas....sana susunod mga jets naman na swedish or israeli made..

wow brand new, sana next time chinook at apache

wow brand new, sana next time chinook at apache

super expensive toys yun....medyo dito lang tayo sa kaya ng bulsa natin sa ngayon.....next purchase siguro sa jets naman kahit 1 or 2 squadron muna...

WOW KICKASS....:banana: wooohhoooooo sa wakas....sana susunod mga jets naman na swedish or israeli made..

Russian dedigned ang engine nung Polish helicopter.

We should try other Polish made weapons or Russian made like the Antonovs to replace our aging C-130 Hercules...

Russian dedigned ang engine nung Polish helicopter.

We should try other Polish made weapons or Russian made like the Antonovs to replace our aging C-130 Hercules...

yup why not....wag lang chinese made...no slur...intended...

yup why not....wag lang chinese made...no slur...intended...

Chinese armaments were made using technology borrowed from Russia.

Sigro kaya sa Poland bumili mas mura compared to US war materials.

Baka overpriced na second hand pa ibigay uli ng US.

Dapat maging praktikal tayo, in my opinion matagal na rin tayo ginagantso ng US sabi nga ni Mirrian Santiago...

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss56/boomstick54/md520.jpg



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg/800px-W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82.jpg

PZL W-3WA Sokół

source: wikipedia

US made vs. Poland made

For me Poland made....

Di ko alam kung alin mas mura...

Pero mkhang ampaw yung US made MD

Russian dedigned ang engine nung Polish helicopter.

We should try other Polish made weapons or Russian made like the Antonovs to replace our aging C-130 Hercules...

baka meron silang sobrang mga HIND/HOKUM/HAVOC AH diyan na pwedeng i-throw-in pag bumili ka ng mga sokol :lol:

Sana hwag syang maging part ng 5th or 15th FRIGHTENING Wing.
Bigyan din ng pansin ang winning the hearts and mind of the people.

Russian dedigned ang engine nung Polish helicopter.

We should try other Polish made weapons or Russian made like the Antonovs to replace our aging C-130 Hercules...

why not bought Indonesian planes guys,for example IPTN (Indonesia aerospace industry)'s made CN-235 although smaler than c-130, our plane fit for South east asia terrain condition and also much cheaper but still had the quality and already exported to many countries for ex; South Korea,Malaysia,Jordan,Pakistan etc

CN-235 royal malaysian airforce
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg/800px-RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg

we also exporting NAS 330 J (=Aérospatiale Puma) to Iran and Jordan (under license from Aérospatiale France )
http://adiewicaksono.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/puma.jpg

beside exporting NBO-105 under German license to various countries ( total we made 123 these heli )
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/415/img4049rr0.jpg

'afterall IMO we south east asian countries should be more self-sufficient and help each-other, not depending to another countries for defence purposes because our experience with military embargo with hit badly our military capability for couple years..

btw Antonov is Ukraine guys :)

Nasan na yung link para masuportahan yang report?

^^^^Im also looking for the news article because a link was not provided. Anyway, more pictures of Polish made helicopter "Sokol"

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/236251.jpg

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/06062900201.jpg

^^^^Im also looking for the news article because a link was not provided. Anyway, more pictures of Polish made helicopter "Sokol"

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/236251.jpg

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/06062900201.jpg

wow kickass talaga...btw ang antonov...russian yan...ngayon na lang naging ukraine yan ng humiwalay ang ukraine sa ussr.....it is originally russian..amen?

why not bought Indonesian planes guys,for example IPTN (Indonesia aerospace industry)'s made CN-235 although smaler than c-130, our plane fit for South east asia terrain condition and also much cheaper but still had the quality and already exported to many countries for ex; South Korea,Malaysia,Jordan,Pakistan etc

CN-235 royal malaysian airforce
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg/800px-RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg

we also exporting NAS 330 J (=Aérospatiale Puma) to Iran and Jordan (under license from Aérospatiale France )
http://adiewicaksono.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/puma.jpg

beside exporting NBO-105 under German license to various countries ( total we made 123 these heli )
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/415/img4049rr0.jpg

'afterall IMO we south east asian countries should be more self-sufficient and help each-other, not depending to another countries for defence purposes because our experience with military embargo with hit badly our military capability for couple years..

btw Antonov is Ukraine guys :)

i some how agree with you....but ukraine used to be part of russia kaya during those times classified siya na russian...ngayon na lang siya naging ukraine when it separated from then ussr which is now russia

I think the PAF's only has window mounted MGs, definitely not the ones in the pict. Most probably this:
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/3/7/4/1570473.jpg


wow kickass talaga...btw ang antonov...russian yan...ngayon na lang naging ukraine yan ng humiwalay ang ukraine sa ussr.....it is originally russian..amen?

to re-edit

^^^^Im also looking for the news article because a link was not provided. Anyway, more pictures of Polish made helicopter "Sokol"

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/236251.jpg

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/sandy925_photo/06062900201.jpg

BTW this sokol has no anti-submarine warfare capabilities... sayang pagkakataon na sanan nating magpatrol pa ng husto sa karagatan natin para hanapin yung mga chinese subs nayan..... :nuts:

Image of an AIFV in action from timawa by 4threich:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/006D9dB8H49L7/610x.jpg

ang sokol b parang hind, infantry transpo gunship

US made vs. Poland made

For me Poland made....

Di ko alam kung alin mas mura...

Pero mkhang ampaw yung US made MD



ngek, yang nasa picture mong US maid hindi naman talaga military helicopter yan, transformed lang ng mga pinoy para maging military. Ilagay mo yuong mga apache at iba pa he he

ngek, yang nasa picture mong US maid hindi naman talaga military helicopter yan, transformed lang ng mga pinoy para maging military. Ilagay mo yuong mga apache at iba pa he he

Actually utility aircraft lang din yung Falcon ng Poland.

Yung mga nasa picture, nilagyan lang din ng armaments.

Mga Hind at MI ang mga armed to the teeth na katapat ng mga US helicopters.

I think I've read a news somewhere, a year ago I think but I forgot where it is.. that japan is thinking of exporting her military technology to her allies..can someone verify this?

ang sokol b parang hind, infantry transpo gunship

Yes or in other offical words: Combat Utility Helicopter

speaking of choppers, can someone ID the loadout?

http://imgur.com/LEZAy.jpg

http://imgur.com/ptdw2.jpg

http://imgur.com/CAGqY.jpg

why not bought Indonesian planes guys,for example IPTN (Indonesia aerospace industry)'s made CN-235 although smaler than c-130, our plane fit for South east asia terrain condition and also much cheaper but still had the quality and already exported to many countries for ex; South Korea,Malaysia,Jordan,Pakistan etc

CN-235 royal malaysian airforce
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg/800px-RMAF-CN295-M44-03-01.jpg

:)

This one looks almost like one of those ATRs or even Q300 being used by 5J and PAL. Instead of this, i'd just get one of those B727 and convert it into something like this as well since B727 has door down it's tail going down like that. Fedex, DHL and UPS has those B727 for some of their cargoes.

^^ there is a wide range of functions for CN-235, personnel transport, anti-submarine or surveillance/reconnaissance. Its cheaper than many of its competitors.

We're also developing various UAV's and rockets.

Indonesia experienced trouble when the US congress decided to embargo American made weapons to us. That's why we now either focus to increase our capability to manufacture our own weapons or buy from more 'friendly' sources like Russia, China or South Korea. I think more cooperation between ASEAN members would strengthen ASEAN solidarity.

Diba Spain ang may ari ng EADS CASA CN series and sa Indonesia lang ginagawa ang 235 na mga orders dito sa south east?

OT

Bakit bumalik sa 3 lang ang post ko?

wow kickass talaga...btw ang antonov...russian yan...ngayon na lang naging ukraine yan ng humiwalay ang ukraine sa ussr.....it is originally russian..amen?

totoo bang nandito na sa ating lupain ang mga helicopter na ito?:banana::banana::banana: im so proud... at last naman..

i hope someone can share pics from the 74th anniversary of AFP... nakita ko sa GMA ung video, pictures naman sana...:D

i hope someone can share pics from the 74th anniversary of AFP... nakita ko sa GMA ung video, pictures naman sana...:D

I will post it in about 20 minutes

I will post it in about 20 minutes

thank you...:)

.
24th December 2009

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) traces its roots to the Tejeros Convention of 1897 when the revolutionary government of Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo created the Philippine Army under Capt. Gen. Artemio Ricarte. This Army was the offshoot of the Revolutionary Forces, which took up arms against the Spanish Government from August 30, 1896, up to December 10, 1898, when the Treaty of Paris was entered into by the United States of America and Spain. The same army engaged the Americans during the hostilities between the Philippines and the United States, which began on the night of February 4, 1899, and lasted up to September 25, 1903, when the last Filipino general, Gen. Simeon Ola, surrendered to the Americans.

After the Filipino-American war, the country’s armed forces was reorganized with the promulgation of the National Defense Act in 1935.

At the end of the Second World War, the Armed Forces branches were much more defined. Since then, the AFP has undergone several changes as it has continued to live up to its mission of being the protector of the state and the guardian of democracy.

As the AFP celebrates its 74th year today, the institution has already started its commemorative activities by paying tribute to its brave members and rededicating itself to the services of the people, as reflected in the theme of the celebration, “AFP: Kaisa, Kabalikat Tungo sa Pag-unlad (AFP: United, Shoulder-to-shoulder Towards Progress).”

Outside of performing its primordial role of protecting the state, the AFP has, increasingly participated in nationwide efforts to bring forth peace, empowerment, development, and relief to those who are distressed.

In the area of forging peace, the AFP has been involved in the Social Integration Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, assisting former rebels return to the law. Through the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program, the AFP has also been providing residents in rural areas assistance by way of constructing farm-to-market roads, school buildings, health centers, and electrification projects. Close to 500 projects have been built up in barangays in our 30 provinces in the country. In times of disaster, the AFP immediately mobilizes its troops and resources, its personnel braving all risks to save the lives of their compatriots. The AFP has evolved into an organization which exemplifies true service to the country and the people.

We congratulate the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines led by its Chief of Staff General Victor S. Ibrado, on the occasion of its 74th Anniversary and wish them success in all their endeavors.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/235441/armed-forces-philippines-74th-anniversary



Videos :

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/52522/qtv-philippine-army-marks-afp-74th-anniversary



http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/PC170001.jpg


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http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/PC170083.jpg



The above photos was courtesy of the Philippine Defense Forum.


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/camp_aguinaldo.jpg


http://balita.ph/2009/12/24/pgma-troops-the-line-as-she-leads-the-afps-74th-anniversary-celebration/

.


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/25t83o9.jpg
Soldiers parade during the 74th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at
Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila December 24, 2009. (Reuters)



http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/vd0o5w.jpg

Female military personnel parade during the 74th anniversary of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila December 24, 2009. (Reuters)



http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/2eoxjle.jpg

A villager, whose belongings are being carried by soldiers, is escorted to a truck after she was
forced to evacuate her shanty near the Mayon Volcano in Guinobatan town, Albay province,
south of Manila December 24, 2009. The Philippines' most active volcano shot higher ash
columns and rumbled louder on Wednesday as authorities warned of a potential hazardous
eruption in Mount Mayon anytime. (Reuters)

Courtesy of Militaryphotos.net

bakit gaun pag oras na nang totoong labanan sa mindanao, di mo makikitang nagfi-face camo yang mga tropa natin...?

wala pa akong napapanood ng mga sundalo na kikipag bakbakan wyl naka ghilie suit... ano pala model ng presidential car antin

.

0WMYcDlkeWk



6iKgFImndvo



Jmmu3u25fgU



3m6iIZp39eI

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bicol1.jpg


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http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bicol4.jpg


Photos were courtesy of Militaryphotos.net

Diba Spain ang may ari ng EADS CASA CN series and sa Indonesia lang ginagawa ang 235 na mga orders dito sa south east?

sorry I dont understand tagalog except few words offcourse..:lol:

but in case you asking about cn235 and what it relation with casa spain, actually this plane is co-designed between IPTN and CASA and later both made their own modification, for example IPTN Indonesia made CN235 anti-submarine with radar and missiles for that kind purposed while CASA SPAIN dont,

fyi....the bo105 chopper is also being manufactured here in the philippines....it was during the time of marcos....that they did.....pati bn islander na fixed wing aircraft....

fyi....the bo105 chopper is also being manufactured here in the philippines....it was during the time of marcos....that they did.....pati bn islander na fixed wing aircraft....
nung panahon lng ba ni marcos? eh ngaun hindi na ba?

wala bang video dun sa parade?

totoo bang nandito na sa ating lupain ang mga helicopter na ito?:banana::banana::banana: im so proud... at last naman..

wala pa ito sa atin pero na award na...ibig sabihin for delivery na....you can visit the website of the department of national defence...para makita mo na na award na ang contract...for delivery of the said helicopters...

nung panahon lng ba ni marcos? eh ngaun hindi na ba?

hanggang siguro ngayon dahil ginagamit pa ang bo105 helicopters ng philipiine navy....

nung panahon lng ba ni marcos? eh ngaun hindi na ba?

Yup! daming projects ang military noon.. Sta.barbara project nawala na din. Meron na sana missile ang Pilipinas and sariling Jet trainer or even fighter na gaawa sa Pilipinas. Nawala lahat eto nung panahon ni Cory. Ok sana na cancel ni Cory ang mga hindi maganda sa panahon ni Marcos..pero kung lahat ba naman ay inalis nya:bash:

I hope the Philippine forces will strengthen to avoid invasion because we're prone on terrorism,

agree ako dyan...basta may tatak marcos kahit maganda ay binahiran ng putik at kasamaan....ng mga walang achievements na mga leader na sumunod...

si gibo ang platform nya ang kasama ang pagpapalakas ng external defense ng pinas....kaya isa yun sa gusto ko sa kanya kaya ko sya iboboto....walang ni isa mang kandidato na nagsabi na palalakasin nya ang external defense ng bansa kundi si gibo...mukhang siya lang ang may vision at per experience na rin siguro nakikita nya na potential target tayo in the future dahil sa langis sa pinagaagawan na mga isla sa kalayaan islands...at sa kadidikit natin sa mga kano....

yung project ni makoy na cali jet....sad to say na isantabi....ang prototype nya ay makikita sa paf aerospace museum na malapit sa naia t3 pati yung bong bong missile na successful na naipalipad ng 12 kilometers noon...wala ng narinig dun....sayang....hindi sana tayo basta sinasagi sagi lang ng ibang bansa ngayon....

Gibo bats for modern sea, air defense system
LAKAS-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. yesterday vowed to upgrade the capabilities of the three service units of the Armed Forces to modernize the country’s air and sea defense system.

Teodoro, a former Defense Secretary, observed that the country’s Air Force and Navy are so ill-equipped they are no match to the modern military forces of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

He stressed the “pressing need to modernize” the Armed Forces’ defense capability by acquiring new patrol boats and fighter planes.

“We do not lack qualified men and women in uniform. What the AFP is wanting now is more modern ships and aircraft to safeguard our borders,” Teodoro said.

He said a well-equipped Armed Forces would be a credible deterrent against poaching by foreign vessels in Philippine waters which contain some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Foreign vessels are known to intrude into Philippine waters especially the more than 40,000 square kilometers of exclusive economic maritime zones.

Teodoro said he would hammer out with lawmakers a program to raise additional money for the AFP modernization to replace its WW II-era patrol boats and ageing helicopters and fighter planes.

The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country without a fighter aircraft force. Air defense and patrol is now being provided by 18 Augusta S-211 trainer jets.

Teodoro was instrumental in helping the AFP acquire 15 new trainer planes from South Korea and several “swift boats” now used in the military’s interdiction campaigns against terrorist and insurgent groups in Mindanao.

He is also credited for securing additional helicopters and transport aircraft for the Air Force through negotiations with the United States military aside from equipment which gave the Air Force a night-flying capability.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2009-12-29&sec=17&aid=110476

WW II-era patrol boat

BRP Pangasinan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRP_Pangasinan_%28PS-31%29)
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/kubwak/stuff/ShipPhotoBRPPangasinan-1.jpg

nakita ko siya sa cebu habang papunta kami ng hilongos noong may

Gibo Bats for Modern Sea, Air Defense System

LAKAS-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. yesterday vowed to upgrade the capabilities of the three service units of the Armed Forces to modernize the country’s air and sea defense system.

Teodoro, a former Defense Secretary, observed that the country’s Air Force and Navy are so ill-equipped they are no match to the modern military forces of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

He stressed the “pressing need to modernize” the Armed Forces’ defense capability by acquiring new patrol boats and fighter planes.

“We do not lack qualified men and women in uniform. What the AFP is wanting now is more modern ships and aircraft to safeguard our borders,” Teodoro said.

He said a well-equipped Armed Forces would be a credible deterrent against poaching by foreign vessels in Philippine waters which contain some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Foreign vessels are known to intrude into Philippine waters especially the more than 40,000 square kilometers of exclusive economic maritime zones.

Teodoro said he would hammer out with lawmakers a program to raise additional money for the AFP modernization to replace its WW II-era patrol boats and ageing helicopters and fighter planes.

The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country without a fighter aircraft force. Air defense and patrol is now being provided by 18 Augusta S-211 trainer jets.

Teodoro was instrumental in helping the AFP acquire 15 new trainer planes from South Korea and several “swift boats” now used in the military’s interdiction campaigns against terrorist and insurgent groups in Mindanao.

He is also credited for securing additional helicopters and transport aircraft for the Air Force through negotiations with the United States military aside from equipment which gave the Air Force a night-flying capability.

source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2009-12-29&sec=17&aid=110476

that is one of the reason why i am voting for gibo.....itong items na ito na hindi man lang ata sumasagi sa panaginip ng ibang kandidato....we may be involved in a conflict and find out too late sa kapabayaan natin sa ating external defence...

uung secretay pa sya, bakit d nya ginawa yan

uung secretay pa sya, bakit d nya ginawa yan

Napakagandang tanong. Bakit ngayon lang nya sinasabi yan.

^^Pampabango lang siguro yan ni Pareng Gibo...Matagal tagal na rin yang usapin tungkol sa modernisasyon, pero wala pa ring nangyari... :)

Limitado na rin po yung time nya as a defense secretary and siguro syempre may commander in chief pa sya to follow with unlike kapag president na sya dba, he can pursue his good plans for the AFP then.

:nuts::nuts::lol:

uung secretay pa sya, bakit d nya ginawa yan

Napakagandang tanong. Bakit ngayon lang nya sinasabi yan.

anong hindi....sino ba ang nagbigay ng night capability sa phil air force para maka atake sa gabi....si GIBO lang....sino ba ang nag indorse na bumili ng bagong helicopters na twice nag fail ang bidding pero sa pagpupursige ni GIBO heto na at meron ng for delivery na 8 choppers sa airforce....hindi ba kayo nagtataka kung bakit hindi na nagiingay ang military dahil satisfied sila sa leadership ni GIBO....mga bagong helmets, fatigues, boots....armaments.....ito lang ang kandidato na nakakarealize na potential flashpoint ang south china sea dahil sa kalayaan islands at spratlys...at ang mas importante na nasa ilalim nito...langis......imagine na lang kung hindi tayo maghanda....pano na pagbiglang nagliyab ang gyire yan bukas....di suntok lang tayo sa hangin......the time to prepare is when there is no chaos...pag alam ng kapit bahay mo na pagnaapakan ka aaray ka at aapak din magdadahan dahan sa pagkilos ang mga ito....dahil sa bwelta....ngayon pwede tayong pitik pitikin at matutuyo lang ang laway natin sa kapo protesta...:ohno:

^^Pampabango lang siguro yan ni Pareng Gibo...Matagal tagal na rin yang usapin tungkol sa modernisasyon, pero wala pa ring nangyari... :)

Ganun na nga...

anong hindi....sino ba ang nagbigay ng night capability sa phil air force para maka atake sa gabi....si GIBO lang....sino ba ang nag indorse na bumili ng bagong helicopters na twice nag fail ang bidding pero sa pagpupursige ni GIBO heto na at meron ng for delivery na 8 choppers sa airforce....hindi ba kayo nagtataka kung bakit hindi na nagiingay ang military dahil satisfied sila sa leadership ni GIBO....mga bagong helmets, fatigues, boots....armaments.....ito lang ang kandidato na nakakarealize na potential flashpoint ang south china sea dahil sa kalayaan islands at spratlys...at ang mas importante na nasa ilalim nito...langis......imagine na lang kung hindi tayo maghanda....pano na pagbiglang nagliyab ang gyire yan bukas....di suntok lang tayo sa hangin......the time to prepare is when there is no chaos...pag alam ng kapit bahay mo na pagnaapakan ka aaray ka at aapak din magdadahan dahan sa pagkilos ang mga ito....dahil sa bwelta....ngayon pwede tayong pitik pitikin at matutuyo lang ang laway natin sa kapo protesta...:ohno:

Sa totoo lang panahon pa ni Fidel Ramos yan. Tapos ni Erap. Ngayon Gloria.

Yung time ni Avelino Cruz ba yun (DND secretary) I think ok na yan...nag-hyatt 10 at pinalit si Gibo ata. So wag mong i-credit yan Teodoro dahil matagal na sa pipeline yan.

Sasabihin mo, panahon ni Teodoro yung na-bid out yung helicopter kaya kay Teodoro. Using your line of reasoning, si DND secretary Gonzales ang pumirma ng purchase agreement ng 8 helicopters. So kay Norberto Gonzales yun deal.

"pag alam ng kapit bahay mo na pagnaapakan ka aaray ka at aapak din magdadahan dahan sa pagkilos ang mga ito."

Inapakan ng China ang Vietnam sa Paracel. Nakatunganga lang ang Vietnam. Mas malakas na di hamak ang Vietnam sa Pilipinas.

Sa totoo lang panahon pa ni Fidel Ramos yan. Tapos ni Erap. Ngayon Gloria.

Yung time ni Avelino Cruz ba yun (DND secretary) I think ok na yan...nag-hyatt 10 at pinalit si Gibo ata. So wag mong i-credit yan Teodoro dahil matagal na sa pipeline yan.

Sasabihin mo, panahon ni Teodoro yung na-bid out yung helicopter kaya kay Teodoro. Using your line of reasoning, si DND secretary Gonzales ang pumirma ng purchase agreement ng 8 helicopters. So kay Norberto Gonzales yun deal.

Excuse me sir but It was during his term when the bid started. Now eat your own words http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DNDWEBPAGE_files/dndbac/acafp/iab4.pdf

Sa totoo lang panahon pa ni Fidel Ramos yan. Tapos ni Erap. Ngayon Gloria.

Yung time ni Avelino Cruz ba yun (DND secretary) I think ok na yan...nag-hyatt 10 at pinalit si Gibo ata. So wag mong i-credit yan Teodoro dahil matagal na sa pipeline yan.

Sasabihin mo, panahon ni Teodoro yung na-bid out yung helicopter kaya kay Teodoro. Using your line of reasoning, si DND secretary Gonzales ang pumirma ng purchase agreement ng 8 helicopters. So kay Norberto Gonzales yun deal.

Excuse me sir but It was during his term when the bid started. Now eat your own words http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DNDWEBPAGE_files/dndbac/acafp/iab4.pdf

Nag-excuse ka pa, tapos ipapakain mo lang ang sinabi ko.:bash:

Excuse me rin, Im not gonna eat my words because in the first place you did not understand what Im talking about.

My first sentence talks about AFP's modernization. In fact, Ramos sold or lease a portion of Fort Bonifacio so that the proceeds will be used to procure new equipments for the AFP. So yung pangbili ng mga new or refurbished aircrafts matagal ng nakakasang plano yan.


Kay Avelino and under PGMA's administration, matagal nang naluto yung pagbili ng aircrafts tulad ng helicopters at iba pang equipment.


Tapos, malinaw na binanggit ko rin na pina-bid out ni Teodoro ang pagbili ng Polish helicopters.

But, its always the one at the helm (Norberto Gonzales as new DND secretary) who has the final say if the bidding and purchase will be consummated.

And indeed, Its Norberto Gonzales.

Now, excuse me again, Now, I say, should be the one, who has to eat your own words.

http://adroth.ph/AFP/dnd/cuh.JPG

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php

The document above says that everything will still be hanging in the balance until both camp fulfilled the terms of agreement and the helicopters delivered here.

^Teodoro still gets the credit and not the current DND Sec.

^Teodoro still gets the credit and not the current DND Sec.

What can i do. Thats how you see it.

If Teodoro didn't quit as DND Sec his signature would had been in that document.

If Teodoro didn't quit as DND Sec his signature would had been in that document.

If he did not resign.

Problem is, he IS NOT the DND Secretary anymore.

Fact is he JUST initiated the bidding process, But its GOnzales, the new DND secretary who will consummate the deal. Its not the call of your Teodoro anymore.

The moment Norberto Gonzales writes his accomplishments, obviously the credit of actual procurement of the helicopters goes to him.

I hope you get that.

Gibo bats for modern sea, air defense system
LAKAS-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. yesterday vowed to upgrade the capabilities of the three service units of the Armed Forces to modernize the country’s air and sea defense system.

Teodoro, a former Defense Secretary, observed that the country’s Air Force and Navy are so ill-equipped they are no match to the modern military forces of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

He stressed the “pressing need to modernize” the Armed Forces’ defense capability by acquiring new patrol boats and fighter planes.

“We do not lack qualified men and women in uniform. What the AFP is wanting now is more modern ships and aircraft to safeguard our borders,” Teodoro said.

He said a well-equipped Armed Forces would be a credible deterrent against poaching by foreign vessels in Philippine waters which contain some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Foreign vessels are known to intrude into Philippine waters especially the more than 40,000 square kilometers of exclusive economic maritime zones.

Teodoro said he would hammer out with lawmakers a program to raise additional money for the AFP modernization to replace its WW II-era patrol boats and ageing helicopters and fighter planes.

The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country without a fighter aircraft force. Air defense and patrol is now being provided by 18 Augusta S-211 trainer jets.

Teodoro was instrumental in helping the AFP acquire 15 new trainer planes from South Korea and several “swift boats” now used in the military’s interdiction campaigns against terrorist and insurgent groups in Mindanao.

He is also credited for securing additional helicopters and transport aircraft for the Air Force through negotiations with the United States military aside from equipment which gave the Air Force a night-flying capability.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2009-12-29&sec=17&aid=110476

That's not what this article says hahahaha.

^^ I think, it was Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz who initiated the AFP five-year modernization project that will last until 2010. During his term, duon nag kabuliyasuhan yung helicopter and arms bidding, then another one in 2008 and there was a question of the 5 Billion peso budget that PGMA matched with her own 5 Billion peso out of her wallet. :D
Kindly do some research, I could be wrong, tagal na sa defense forum na discuss yung modernization plan kasi.

^^Hahaha... actually super duper tagal na yang modernization project. I think Congress passed a law during Ramos' time. Ito nakita ko na: Republic Act 7898 (RA 7898) or the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 http://www.afpmodernization.mil.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=27. Pero wala namang nagyari diyan hanggang ngayon. Mostly of our "modern" equipments and vehicles came from donations or military agreements (mostly US) .

Eto lang sigurado ako.... kapag nanalo ang senate line-up ni Villar ay walang pag asa na talaga military ng Pilipinas.

Sayang lang ang inutang na pera ng bansa natin sa foreign banks, most of it went to corruptioon. Some items procured locally by AFP are supplied by local suppliers who gives big commissions to Finance Department. May GOD help us!

Sayang lang ang inutang na pera ng bansa natin sa foreign banks, most of it went to corruptioon. Some items procured locally by AFP are supplied by local suppliers who gives big commissions to Finance Department. May GOD help us!

Hindi bale kung pera talaga ng gobyerno e inutang lang. Tapos sana, locally goods ang binili at iikot pera sa Pinas. E kung foreign goods na i-import ng local firms? Talo.E di masaya na naman at nakinabang ang mga foreign corporations at hindi tayong Pinoy.

Ginigisa ang Pilipino sa sariling mantika.

Eto lang sigurado ako.... kapag nanalo ang senate line-up ni Villar ay walang pag asa na talaga military ng Pilipinas.

Talaga?

How sure are you?And your proof?

Sige nga, patunayan mo.

E obvious namang gumagawa ka lang ng usap e.

Your just imagining things.

Mukhang nanghuhula ka lang tulad nung mga nanghuhula sa Quiapo at wala kang ni katiting na pruweba.

Again, prove that you are not making up things.

Let us see, kung sino ang mas sigurado sa atin

Im not sure kung meron na talaga yung iba pang refurbished na attack helicopters.Pero malinaw ang memorya ko, nabasa ko sa BIZNEws ni Tony Lopez yung comprehensive plan ni Sec. Avelino CRuz regarding AFP modernization. Nabulilyaso dahil sumama sa Hyatt 10.

Sa totoo lang panahon pa ni Fidel Ramos yan. Tapos ni Erap. Ngayon Gloria.

Yung time ni Avelino Cruz ba yun (DND secretary) I think ok na yan...nag-hyatt 10 at pinalit si Gibo ata. So wag mong i-credit yan Teodoro dahil matagal na sa pipeline yan.

Sasabihin mo, panahon ni Teodoro yung na-bid out yung helicopter kaya kay Teodoro. Using your line of reasoning, si DND secretary Gonzales ang pumirma ng purchase agreement ng 8 helicopters. So kay Norberto Gonzales yun deal.

....My first sentence talks about AFP's modernization. In fact, Ramos sold or leased a portion of Fort Bonifacio so that the proceeds will be used to procure new equipments for the AFP. So yung pangbili ng mga new or refurbished aircrafts matagal ng nakakasang plano yan.

Kay Avelino and under PGMA's administration, matagal nang naluto yung pagbili ng aircrafts tulad ng helicopters at iba pang equipment.

Tapos, malinaw na binanggit ko rin na pina-bid out ni Teodoro ang pagbili ng Polish helicopters.

But, its always the one at the helm (Norberto Gonzales as new DND secretary) who has the final say if the bidding and purchase will be consummated.

And indeed, Its Norberto Gonzales.

http://adroth.ph/AFP/dnd/cuh.JPG

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php



^^ I think, it was Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz who initiated the AFP five-year modernization project that will last until 2010. During his term, duon nag kabuliyasuhan yung helicopter and arms bidding, then another one in 2008 and there was a question of the 5 Billion peso budget that PGMA matched with her own 5 Billion peso out of her wallet. :D
Kindly do some research, I could be wrong, tagal na sa defense forum na discuss yung modernization plan kasi.

^^Hahaha... actually super duper tagal na yang modernization project. I think Congress passed a law during Ramos' time. Ito nakita ko na: Republic Act 7898 (RA 7898) or the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 http://www.afpmodernization.mil.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=27. Pero wala namang nagyari diyan hanggang ngayon. Mostly of our "modern" equipments and vehicles came from donations or military agreements (mostly US) .


Mismo.

teka lang po, intermission muna :carrot:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/kubwak/stuff/coupdetat.jpg:carrot:

Napunta pa sa mga kaibigan nila sa Maguindanao yung ibang armas at mga bala.... :lol:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dff7Kugvqa4B/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09Ak3V36S24Uh/610x.jpg

teka lang po, intermission muna :carrot:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/kubwak/stuff/coupdetat.jpg:carrot:

^^Not to take anything from their bravery of course but the caption is just...:rofl:

Kubwak...Domo...for making me laugh :okay:

Is this picture already in the CAPTION thread? :lol:

^^Not to take anything from their bravery of course but the caption is just...:rofl:

Kubwak...Domo...for making me laugh :okay:

Is this picture already in the CAPTION thread? :lol:

i just found this in the net and it was not i who captioned this demotivational poster

yes they are definitely brave for doing their duty

but them bunching together, i dont think that that is SOP from their training

even though i was amused with the caption, i was more thankful that the bullet phrase wasnt experienced/proven by them

sana naman ay di ito mauulit na mangyayari na pinoy laban sa pinoy

Sa totoo lang panahon pa ni Fidel Ramos yan. Tapos ni Erap. Ngayon Gloria.

Yung time ni Avelino Cruz ba yun (DND secretary) I think ok na yan...nag-hyatt 10 at pinalit si Gibo ata. So wag mong i-credit yan Teodoro dahil matagal na sa pipeline yan.

Sasabihin mo, panahon ni Teodoro yung na-bid out yung helicopter kaya kay Teodoro. Using your line of reasoning, si DND secretary Gonzales ang pumirma ng purchase agreement ng 8 helicopters. So kay Norberto Gonzales yun deal.

precisely your point panahon pa ni ramos at erap at ngayon gloria...ang modernization na yan....pero kanino ba kumilos yan....sa panahon lang ni Gibo.....tama sabi mo magaling din ang ginawa ni Avelino Cruz but the thing sinuwag nya amo niya....at hindi nya natapos....ang mga ginawa ni Gibo meron nag resulta hindi puro mga plano....yung sinabi kung tingnan ang signed na award document....it does not mean na si Gonzales ang nag sign ay output nya yan....obvious naman na kauupo lang ng mama...legacy yan ni Gibo....gets?

Talaga?

How sure are you?And your proof?

Sige nga, patunayan mo.

E obvious namang gumagawa ka lang ng usap e.

Your just imagining things.

Mukhang nanghuhula ka lang tulad nung mga nanghuhula sa Quiapo at wala kang ni katiting na pruweba.

Again, prove that you are not making up things.

Let us see, kung sino ang mas sigurado sa atin

maybe po kasi Sir ang ibang senatorial bet ng Villar's Camp were former communist members or identified na mga supporter ng kaliwang grupo.

yung mga left leaning na mga senatoriable ni villar....hahatakin sya nito..pababa....kaya gibo...will benefit from it.....wawa na naman ang military pag nanalo ang mga left leaning na yan.....titipidin na naman sa budget...

yung mga left leaning na mga senatoriable ni villar....hahatakin sya nito..pababa....kaya gibo...will benefit from it.....wawa na naman ang military pag nanalo ang mga left leaning na yan.....titipidin na naman sa budget...

OO nga, tagal nang sinasabi yan.

Mula nga nung nagkaayos ang NP at ang mga mainstream leftist tulad ni Representatives Liza Masa and Satur Ocampo, nag-gain pa ng points si Villar at 11% na lang lead ni Noynoy sa kanya.

Samantalang si Teodoro, nakapako pa rin sa 5% ayon sa SWS survey.

Kapag naging pangulo si Villar, mas matutuunan na ng pansin ang modernization nang AFP kasi gaganda ang ekonomiya at dadami pera ng Pinas.

Tapos imbes na ubusin ni Villar pera sa internal defense puede nang ilaan sa external defense kasi, ang mga left leaning candidates will help him pave the way to the final resolution of the communist insurgency sa Pinas at tatahimik at uunlad na ang countryside.

maybe po kasi Sir ang ibang senatorial bet ng Villar's Camp were former communist members or identified na mga supporter ng kaliwang grupo.

Dapat kasi matuwa tayo na nasa mainstream na mga lftist na yan. keysa nuon na ang nasa isip nilang laban ay yung guluhin ang PInas. Ewan ko kung buhay kana nng panahong naghasik ng lagim ang ABB or alex bungcayao brigade.

Susi mga leftist na yan at tama si Villar na makumbinsing tumigil na ang mga komunistang lumaban sa isang laban na wala na mang nananalo.

Kung makumbinsi ang left at mga komunista na tumgil na, mailalagay na ang pondong ginagamit sa internal defense to external defense. Makakabili na tayo ng equipments na kailangan natin para protektahan ang teritoryo natin sa mga dayuhang mananakop o mga pirata o poachers.

how naive.....matuwa tayo na mainstream na ang kanan kamay nila habang kaliwang kamay nila may baril at sina subvert ang gobyerno natin....pakonti konti nilang pinapasok ang pamahalaan baka sakali magkaimpluwensya sila dito...at ma take over ang gobyerno...yan ang teknik ni mao.....sakupin paunti unti ang kapaligiran ng hindi napapansin....at paggising nila napapaligiran na ang gobyerno at huli na para maagapan ito....kaya lang hindi nila magawa itong strategy ni mao....dahil dito isla isla tayo...hindi landmass ....it will take substantial mass for them to takeover just one big island.....pagnaovertake nila ang isang island reinforcement from the other islands could easily kick their asses... and thwart the threat....that is the same reason bakit ang mga kukurukucoup....ay pumalpak....:lol:.....wag iboto ang kampo ni villar...isang malaking kahibangan yan.....ang pagboto kay villar ay pagboto sa mga communist allies nito....

how naive.....matuwa tayo na mainstream na ang kanan kamay nila habang kaliwang kamay nila may baril at sina subvert ang gobyerno natin....pakonti konti nilang pinapasok ang pamahalaan baka sakali magkaimpluwensya sila dito...at ma take over ang gobyerno...yan ang teknik ni mao.....sakupin paunti unti ang kapaligiran ng hindi napapansin....at paggising nila napapaligiran na ang gobyerno at huli na para maagapan ito....kaya lang hindi nila magawa itong strategy ni mao....dahil dito isla isla tayo...hindi landmass ....it will take substantial mass for them to takeover just one big island.....pagnaovertake nila ang isang island reinforcement from the other islands could easily kick their asses... and thwart the threat....that is the same reason bakit ang mga kukurukucoup....ay pumalpak....:lol:.....wag iboto ang kampo ni villar...isang malaking kahibangan yan.....ang pagboto kay villar ay pagboto sa mga communist allies nito....

Really?

Actually this is just a product of your fertile imagination..:lol:.:lol:

Mao sino yung?.:lol:.:lol:

Your naivete is strongly shown here.

You are even definitely detached from reality.

And fact is, the communist movement is definitely waning in the Philippines. Wala na, nauupos na.

Kaya tigilan mo na yang Cold war era backward mentality mo na you keep on raising this communist bogey.

Halos patay na communism. Kahit ang China, malinaw na capitalist masquerading as communist na lang.

Sana nga po totoo yan.

Matagal na po sana silang naging tulay sa kapayapaan kasi matagal na silang parte ng gobyernong ito. Pero ano ginagawa ng mga yan, kahit sino ang naka - upo pilit nilang binabagsak. May mga hidden agenda mga yan para ma promote ang ideology nila, sobrang galing nga po nilang sumakay sa bawat pagkakataon at sitwasyon ng gobyerno natin.

I hate communists, na experienced ko dati mga 1988 when I was kid binaril nila yung ama ng tahanan ng kapitbahay namin sa Bicol dahil daw magnanakaw di na nila inisip ang 8 batang nakasaksi noon (including me) kalaro ko mga anak nun pobre.

Marami akong bad memory sa mga yan, Huwag nyo na itanong, mga Ampatuan din yan eh. :ohno:

Sana nga po totoo yan.

Matagal na po sana silang naging tulay sa kapayapaan kasi matagal na silang parte ng gobyernong ito. Pero ano ginagawa ng mga yan, kahit sino ang naka - upo pilit nilang binabagsak. May mga hidden agenda mga yan para ma promote ang ideology nila, sobrang galing nga po nilang sumakay sa bawat pagkakataon at sitwasyon ng gobyerno natin.

I hate communists, na experienced ko dati mga 1988 when I was kid binaril nila yung ama ng tahanan ng kapitbahay namin sa Bicol dahil daw magnanakaw di na nila inisip ang 8 batang nakasaksi noon (including me) kalaro ko mga anak nun pobre.

Marami akong bad memory sa mga yan, Huwag nyo na itanong, mga Ampatuan din yan eh. :ohno:

Spent force na mga yan, iho.

Sino pa sponsor nyang mga yan? North Korea? Ni mamamayan nila hidi nila masuportahan. Asan na USSR? matagal ng inilibing. Ang Russia, she is dancing with the capitalists.

China...now a capitalist country masquerading as a communist...

Asan na sina Satur? Ayun kasama na ng mga bourgeoisie sa Pinas.

Siguro,ang battle cry na ng mga komunista (at mas realistic na ngayon) if you cant beat them join them (bourgeoisie.)

The communist ideology to me is a dying ideology..Tapos na ang classical or romantic period. This is an era of pragmatism.

So yung mga leftist at tama ginawa nilang nakialyado kay VIllar dahil hindi snobbish ang NP, di tulad ng ibang partido.

Biglang naging Halalan 2010 ang thread na ito.. For sure kung nabasa ito nila Gng. Teodoro at Sec. Norberto, pagtatawanan lang kayo.. I don't think they even give a damn who gets the credit.. :D

Biglang naging Halalan 2010 ang thread na ito.. For sure kung nabasa ito nila Gng. Teodoro at Sec. Norberto, pagtatawanan lang kayo.. I don't think they even give a damn who gets the credit.. :D

Relevant naman pre pinag-uusapan.

:D

Spent force na mga yan, iho.

Sino pa sponsor nyang mga yan? North Korea? Ni mamamayan nila hidi nila masuportahan. Asan na USSR? matagal ng inilibing. Ang Russia, she is dancing with the capitalists.

China...now a capitalist country masquerading as a communist...

Asan na sina Satur? Ayun kasama na ng mga bourgeoisie sa Pinas.

Siguro,ang battle cry na ng mga komunista (at mas realistic na ngayon) if you cant beat them join them (bourgeoisie.)

The communist ideology to me is a dying ideology..Tapos na ang classical or romantic period. This is an era of pragmatism.

So yung mga leftist at tama ginawa nilang nakialyado kay VIllar dahil hindi snobbish ang NP, di tulad ng ibang partido.


Spent force na nga ang communists....waning na ang influence nila...i agree.....that is a big accomplishment then of pgma. :lol::lol::lol:...isa sa mga BEAT THE ODDS items yun...di ba...dapat pala pasalamatan natin si pgma at ang mga loyal na soldiers natin.....hurray..:lol:..o wala ng kokontra..
accomplishment yun ng pangulo....:banana:

Spent force na nga ang communists....waning na ang influence nila...i agree.....that is a big accomplishment then of pgma. :lol::lol::lol:...isa sa mga BEAT THE ODDS items yun...di ba...dapat pala pasalamatan natin si pgma at ang mga loyal na soldiers natin.....hurray..:lol:..o wala ng kokontra..
accomplishment yun ng pangulo....:banana:

OO nga pag positive development PGMA. Pag negative development, walang kasalanan si PGMA.

So even without lifting a finger, naubos ang NPA?Galing!!:lol::lol:

Simple lang, wala na silang sponsor. Kundi pa sila mang--ha-harass ng mga tao hindi sila makakakuha ng pera...konti na rin sympathesizers nila.

Although, opinyon ko lang. baka nagkakamali pa rin ako. Pero dahil sa hindi na sila maingay..ibig sabihin mahina na.

Pag presidente na si Villar...yung pera mula sa counter insurgency, ibili na lang ng mga bago-bagong air and naval assets for external defense.

At mabantayan ang vast borders natin lalo yung sa may basilan, batanes at kalayaan. Dami poachers dun.

As secretary of National Defense you have had a first hand view of the military. What is the most important problem in the military and how did you handle it? What does this experience mean to you?

There are two major problems of our military: resources and doctrines. In terms of resources, there is a serious shortfall both in manpower and equipment. I trace this back to the failure of our country to properly plan for and build up a credible AFP since our independence after WWII. We have low defense spending and a force that is small for our country’s geographical make up.

In terms of doctrines, we still have the mindset of addressing ideological wars in a conventional sense, while we should be building up our small unit expertise for internal security and law enforcement purposes. This though is now being introduced by the AFP hierarchy. Recent literature, particularly with what is known as 4G warfare or fourth-generational warfare, preaches that although territory is important, the key element now is people, or a single person. You have to arrest that person to stop a security situation. The best example is Osama bin Laden. Here you have Bravo, Kato, Parad, and their ilk. This is what we have to re-engineer our AFP to deal with. -GIBO

As secretary of National Defense you have had a first hand view of the military. What is the most important problem in the military and how did you handle it? What does this experience mean to you?

There are two major problems of our military: resources and doctrines. In terms of resources, there is a serious shortfall both in manpower and equipment. I trace this back to the failure of our country to properly plan for and build up a credible AFP since our independence after WWII. We have low defense spending and a force that is small for our country’s geographical make up.

In terms of doctrines, we still have the mindset of addressing ideological wars in a conventional sense, while we should be building up our small unit expertise for internal security and law enforcement purposes. This though is now being introduced by the AFP hierarchy. Recent literature, particularly with what is known as 4G warfare or fourth-generational warfare, preaches that although territory is important, the key element now is people, or a single person. You have to arrest that person to stop a security situation. The best example is Osama bin Laden. Here you have Bravo, Kato, Parad, and their ilk. This is what we have to re-engineer our AFP to deal with. -GIBO

gibo-bf....wala ng kawala...go green team..

gibo-bf....wala ng kawala...go green team..

:lol::lol::lol:

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

gibo-bf....wala ng kawala...go green team..


Once more...wala ng kawala...Saan?:lol::lol::lol::lol:

:ohno:

RP peacekeepers trapped inside Haiti buildings - AFP (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181437/rp-peacekeepers-trapped-inside-haiti-buildings-afp)
NIKKA CORSINO, GMANews.TV
01/13/2010 | 01:15 PM

(Updated 7:56 p.m.) Filipino peacekeepers were reportedly among those trapped inside establishments that were hit by a strong earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines).

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. told media on Wednesday that he received information from the wife of Col. Lope Dagoy, the commander of the 10th Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent in Haiti, that some Filipino police and military officers were trapped inside some establishments there, including Christopher Hotel at 11 Rue Theoowle, Bourdon in Port-au-Prince.

"Dagoy called through his wife and informed us that some of the members of our peacekeeping contingent have been trapped inside some of the buildings," Brawner said.

Using a satellite phone, Dagoy called his wife from Haiti, saying he was safe but some of his colleagues were trapped at the Christopher Hotel.

“He (Dagoy) said that some our members are trapped in the building somewhere in the center of the Port Au Prince. He also said that majority of the Filipino contingents living in the main building of the Philippine company headquarters were already evacuated," Brawner said later in the day during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.