Nyah Propeller Powered nanaman!

^^ so what type of aircraft do you prefer to be tapped as a replacement for the OV-10?

kung ang F-5A/B papalitan ng KT-1 or ng Super Tucano, doon na tayo dapat magtaka.


Philippines to consider OV-10 replacement (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/18/351920/philippines-to-consider-ov-10-replacement.html)
By Greg Waldron
DATE: 18/01/11
SOURCE: Flight International (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/18/351920/philippines-to-consider-ov-10-replacement.html)


The Philippines has a requirement for a single-engined light attack turboprop as it considers replacing its Rockwell OV-10 Broncos.

The new aircraft will need to match the specifications of the OV-10 in terms of weapons, powerplant, and observation efficiency, says the Philippine air force. It will also need short take-off and landing capability.

An air force team has been drafting an outline for the requirement, which will at some point be submitted to the Philippines' defence department. The air force says, however, that the budget could be an issue.

Possible candidates could include the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries KT-1 and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.

In November 2010, neighbouring Indonesia ordered eight Super Tucanos to replace its OV-10s. This was Embraer's first Asian sale for the type, although the deal has still to be approved by Indonesia's defence ministry.

As an interim measure, the Philippines is in talks with Thailand about a donation of Thai OV-10s. Philippines armed forces chief staff Gen Ricardo David Jr was recently in Thailand, with the possible OV-10 exchange raised as a "point of discussion", says the air force.

The Philippines is not sure how many aircraft Thailand is willing to offer, however.

The OV-10 is an important type for the Philippines' air force, which, like Indonesia, uses the aircraft in the counter insurgency mission. The Philippines is afflicted by a number of low-intensity conflicts, particularly on the southern island of Mindanao, where Islamic militants are active.

"The OV-10 is a good platform," says the air force. "It delivers a multiplicity of munitions and is a good observation platform." It adds that at present only eight OV-10s are operational.

In addition, the Philippines could also buy Malaysia's surplus early-model Pilatus PC-7 primary trainers as Kuala Lumpur may purchase 12 additional PC-7 Mk IIs.

http://defense-update.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/EMB-314_super_tucano4.jpg
-- Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_sZNSL4_Y0/TbovghbKIoI/AAAAAAAAJIM/i_wqSRVml2w/s400/AIR_KO-1_Runway_lg.gif
-- Korea Aerospace (KAI) KT-1.

http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/galleries/images/59176/500x400/beechcraft-t-6-texan-ii.jpg
-- Beechcraft (Raytheon) T-6 Texan II.

With Japan sidelined, US sees
PH as filling security vacuum


BY JENNIE L. ILUSTRE

WASHINGTON – The United States views the Philippines as filling the vacuum in helping to maintain Asia’s security and stability as Japan copes with the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, a source said recently.

"The US views the Philippines as a long-time trusted and treaty ally, and in Japan’s weakened state, so to speak, following the March 11 disaster and its preoccupation with relief and rebuilding – sure to be long-term – the resulting vacuum will be filled by the Philippines," the source said as noted his concern over China’s increasing power in the region.

The source said the US "policy on re-engagement in the Philippines" involves stepped-up efforts with the on-going modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"Coastal watch of the Philippines is the top priority," the source said, adding helicopters and watercraft purchased by the Philippines from the US need to be delivered "before the rainy season begins."

In related news, Victor Manhit, director of StratBase in Manila, wrote on April 17: "Regionally, the AFP confronts the realities of possible military conflict in the South China Sea over territorial claims around the Spratly Islands."

He added: "The territory is also claimed by a determined China and other neighboring countries. Chinese naval vessels recently confronted commercial oil and gas exploration ships in territory being explored by Forum Energy (a United Kingdom–Philippine joint venture). The capability of the AFP to protect the coastline and the skies is country’s most urgent military need. President Aquino recognizes this fact and is moving to meet the requirement."

Ernie Z. Bower, Southeast Asia senior adviser and director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) based in this US capital, said Manhit who wrote the piece for its newsletter.

Bower noted the Philippines military modernization was "a dual effort" to acquire modern equipment and address corruption in the military.

Manhit said President Aquino may be "the best hope for achieving these two fundamentally important objectives."

Manhit also wrote, "The ships and other watercraft for the Navy, and helicopters for the Air Force, will be deployed in Palawan and Sulu. The Philippine Army will acquire rifles, while the Navy may add more multipurpose attack craft. The Navy is also expecting a Hamilton class cutter from the US Coast Guard."

Meanwhile, Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the think tank Heritage Foundation based here, sees continuity in "the high priority" placed by the US on the Philippines "as an ally and a security partner."

Lohman was reacting to the news that President Barack Obama will announce on Thursday (Friday in Manila ) the nomination of Central Intelligence Agency director Leon Panetta to replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Gen. David Petraeus’ nomination to Panetta’s position, first reported by Malaya Business Insight on April 11.

Lohman said in an interview Wednesday, "I expect continuity on policy issues like cooperation with the Philippines on the war on terror, etc., and the high priority put on it as an ally and a security partner."

In Manila, the US embassy allayed suspicions that the recent visits of US Senators Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran had something to do with a plan for the return of their military bases in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Subic served as a major US Navy and Marine base since after the Spanish-American War in 1898 until 1991.

Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson said senators visited Subic last Tuesday to see for themselves on the economic progress and to ask how the US can collaborate. – With Gerard Naval

Hope we get and do our fare share of the this so-called "vacuum filling". They're just too late. Procurement is slow.

to be fair sigurado ako hindi lahat ng mga heneral ay ganyan, since kung lahat sila ay hindi ginagawa ng maayos trabaho nila malamang komunista na ang Pilipinas at panalo na ang NPA.

we've been using the sf-260 ever since the 70's and 80's...it's logical to buy newer versions of it to simplify logistics.

a brand new OPV smaller than the hamilton costs around 2-3 Billion inexclusive spare parts and training...somehow the AFP needs to have something with its limited budget so a 2nd hand ship will not hur/posted by RWR



meron namang malinis na heneral pero karamihan dyan mga loko-loko puro pagnanakaw ang nasa isip.magsimula ka sa pagbebenta ng mga armas sa mga rebeldeng kumunista at mga rebeldeng muslim,military modernization at pagwawaldas ng pera ng AFP,pabaon system.ect ngayon sabihin mo sa akin na di kupal ang mga heneral ng AFP.BIBILI NG MG BULOK AT NAGBABAGSAKANG MGA EROPLANO.hehehe talaga naman.:lol::lol::lol:

magsimula ka sa pagbebenta ng mga armas sa mga rebeldeng kumunista at mga rebeldeng muslim,military modernization at pagwawaldas ng pera ng AFP,pabaon system.ect ngayon sabihin mo sa akin na di kupal ang mga heneral ng AFP.BIBILI NG MG BULOK AT NAGBABAGSAKANG MGA EROPLANO.hehehe talaga naman.:lol::lol::lol:

sa dinami-dami ng mga magnanakaw na heneral, may dahilan yan. dapat imbestegahan ng gobyerno yan kung ano talaga ang dahilan at gawan ng paraan kung paano malinis ang mga corrupt.

Hope we get and do our fare share of the this so-called "vacuum filling". They're just too late. Procurement is slow.

This reminds me when the Philippines was beginning to take-off as a real military force before WWII, and General MacArthur was the field marshal tasked to train filipino soldiers. Nasa kalagitnaan pa lang at eto biglang sumalakay ang mga hapon. Sana hindi umabot ng ganito at mabigla na lang tayo sa invasion ng mga intsik!:ohno::ohno::ohno:

^^ so what type of aircraft do you prefer to be tapped as a replacement for the OV-10?

kung ang F-5A/B papalitan ng KT-1 or ng Super Tucano, doon na tayo dapat magtaka.

http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/galleries/images/59176/500x400/beechcraft-t-6-texan-ii.jpg
-- Beechcraft (Raytheon) T-6 Texan II.

This T-6 Texan I believe is still used by the US Air Force as a trainer aircraft.

^^ that is the T-6 Texan II, which is a different aircraft from the first Texan aircraft (North American T-6 Texan) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-6_Texan).

http://www.vintageflights.com/images/texan_enlarge.jpg
-- North American T-6 Texan.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3253280209_be749eb5dd.jpg
-- US Air Force Beechcraft T-6 Texan II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_T-6_Texan_II).

the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II was the one that i was referring to on my previous post. ;)

the KAI KT-1:

rVSFFOk_QXE

the US will probably reconsider its position when China starts rattling its sabre in the region.

sa dinami-dami ng mga magnanakaw na heneral, may dahilan yan. dapat imbestegahan ng gobyerno yan kung ano talaga ang dahilan at gawan ng paraan kung paano malinis ang mga corrupt.

better train on an old toy than break a new one.

tell me, how can we buy a supah haytek ship/aircraft when we don't even know how to operate an 80's model pulse doppler radar?

the AFP is buying those second hand ships because of that logical reason.

the US will probably reconsider its position when China starts rattling its sabre in the region.

I hope the whole world will! Confronting one billion people is not a joke.
:lol::lol::lol::lol:

meron namang malinis na heneral pero karamihan dyan mga loko-loko puro pagnanakaw ang nasa isip.magsimula ka sa pagbebenta ng mga armas sa mga rebeldeng kumunista at mga rebeldeng muslim,military modernization at pagwawaldas ng pera ng AFP,pabaon system.ect ngayon sabihin mo sa akin na di kupal ang mga heneral ng AFP.BIBILI NG MG BULOK AT NAGBABAGSAKANG MGA EROPLANO.hehehe talaga naman.:lol::lol::lol:

it is clear that even without corruption, the AFP still didn't have the funding it needed.

from 1995-2010 a mere 33 billion was released for modernization out of the 331 billion written on the modernization law.

must watch :D Phil Marine drum and bugle team in SoKor

Ofb41sqqt4k

Guys! from Adroth's post in Timawa....it seems that each Hamilton actually costs ~$9mil.

http://adroth.ph/AFP/dnd/hamilton/dsca.jpg

so that means it is possible that the 1.2 Billion pesos (~$27 mil) we're paying is actually for more than one hamilton. cheers.

^^ Hopefully. Baka mamaya eh $9 yung price eh $1.2 B sa isa ang nirecord ng AFP sa book of accounts nila

:ohno:

Nagaalanganin lang ako sa quantity allocated

Guys! from Adroth's post in Timawa....it seems that each Hamilton actually costs ~$9mil.

http://adroth.ph/AFP/dnd/hamilton/dsca.jpg

so that means it is possible that the 1.2 Billion pesos (~$27 mil) we're paying is actually for more than one hamilton. cheers.

Salamat sa information. However you dont have to promote his name over here at SSC.

Tsaka mo na bangitin yang name na yan dito sa SSC kapag na-born again na sya. :lol:

must watch :D Phil Marine drum and bugle team in SoKor

Ofb41sqqt4k

Nakakamiss yung silent drill ng PMC, sana nagpakitang gilas din sila sa tournament nayan as a special number. :cheers:

it is clear that even without corruption, the AFP still didn't have the funding it needed.

from 1995-2010 a mere 33 billion was released for modernization out of the 331 billion written on the modernization law.


No. San mo nakuha yan, sinong kupal na nagkakalat ng kwentong kainutilan yan?

FVR's administration was only interrupted briefly by the asian financial crisis, and the philippine economy as a whole did not actually suffer that much.

The 3 real problems happened in that previous AFP modernization was:

1. Bigtime bad politics with the philippine legislature's general reluctance to finance those very expensive arms procurements, the civilian
government’s general lack of support to the modernisation of its armed forces, poor planning, indifferent decision-making, and irrationality in the disposition of limited resources for AFP reforms have thwarted efforts towards the professional development of the armed services.

2. CORRUPTIONS, moreover, corruption has become an endemic problem in the AFP already suffering
from scant resources. This is very ironic since the Philippine government has committed itself to modernise its armed forces since 1991.

3. AND mismanagement of revenues from sold government-military properties in fort bonifacio.

The asian financial crisis only made the procurement slower, but was only ultimately shelved when those high ranking corrupt politicians (FVR himself might even been involved in mismanagement or kaengotan with his white elephant mistakes in pampanga) actually have stolen the money and with all those other corrupt system, like the "Pabaon" and kickbacks.

This has been proved by the Magdalos.

So without the corruption, it may have been very much possible that the AFP modernization would have been atleast proceeded right after that year, so by 1998, the AFP could have POSSIBLY already procured some modern and capable military assets.


Under Ramos, the Philippines experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion, as a result of his policies and programs designed to foster national reconciliation and unity. Ramos was able to secure major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy. Ramos also aggressively pushed for the deregulation of the nation's major industries and the privatization of bad government assets. As a result of his hands-on approach to the economy, the Philippines was dubbed by various international magazines and observers as Asia's Next Economic Tiger.

However, the momentum in the economic gains made under the Ramos Administration was briefly interrupted during the onset of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, during the last year of the term, the economy managed to make a rebound since it was not severely hit by the crisis as compared to other Asian economies.

He is the only Filipino to receive an honorary British Knighthood from the United Kingdom, the GCMG or the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. This was bestowed to him by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995 for services to politics and government.

To date, Ramos is the first and only non-Catholic President of the Philippines. He belongs to the Protestant United Church of Christ in the Philippines.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_V._Ramos



A lot of these corrupt military and government officials have been using the Asian Financial Flu/Crisis as their escape goat to coverup their dirty works. Most of them have connections in media and other influential rich businessmen from different rich filpino-chinese clans.


This article analyses the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernisation
program as a case study on how excessive civilian control hampers military
reform and causes discontent within the military establishment. The withdrawalof the American forces in 1992, and the challenge posed by China in the mid-1990s created the expectation that the Philippines was to embark on an armsmodernisation program that would develop the armed forces’ autonomous andexternal defense capability. However, almost a decade after the program wasannounced and almost seven years after the AFP modernisation law was passed,the Philippine military has yet to implement meaningful changes in its strategic doctrine and posture.

The paper observes that a political stasis—the post-1986 Philippine Congress’
reassertion of its authority—greatly impeded any doctrinal change in the country’s defense establishment and prevented the AFP from diverting scarce resources for military reforms. This in turn has prevented major reforms in the defense security sector as it hindered the AFP from pursuing the initial goals of its modernisation program—autonomy and capacity to address external security threats.

In conclusion, the paper observes that the current conservatism in the country’s strategic affairs reflects the political stasis in Philippine society, brought about by the restoration of an elitist democracy and the ability of the political elite to use the Congress in wielding their influence over the country’s defense affairs. Thus, it contends that any major reforms in the Philippine military should also involve transformation in its relations with the civilian government.

In the wee hours of July 26, 2003, 300 officers and men of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) took control of a shopping mall, an
apartment and hotel complex, which are all located in the heart of the
country’s financial district. The rebel troops held the shopping complex
for 15 hours and declared that they did not want to grab power from the
government but only to express their indignation against what they called
an unfettered corruption within the Philippine military. Calling
themselves “Soldiers of the Nation,” the rebels also complained, of low
pay, poor training and favouritism in the service and accused top military
and defense officials of masterminding the recent bombings in Mindanao
and of selling arms and ammunition to Muslim rebels fighting for
secession. After airing their grievances and negotiating with senior and
retired officers, the rebels ended their mutiny and quietly returned to the
barracks to await their court-martial.

http://www.ssronline.org/jofssm/issues/jofssm_sp_03_asia_decastro.pdf?CFID=3395275&CFTOKEN=10961773

Spearhead, I believe that one of the reasons why politicians didn't want to allocate the funds is because they want to divert the money to themselves with the conivance of military officials.

^^ Another would be the presence of Communists-Maoists in our legislature. Recently nga may mga tumakbo as Senators :ohno:

Blessing sa new thread!

Spearhead, I believe that one of the reasons why politicians didn't want to allocate the funds is because they want to divert the money to themselves with the conivance of military officials.

That's actually true, and it falls on mismanagement and corruption of the funds. If you read the whole article, it does says something about it. The Magdalos knew it and was part of their grievances why the AFP were not able to upgrade its capabilities because of this rampant corruption by former chief of staff A. Reyes and others.

That's why if you can only notice, the whole article did not actually consider the 1997 asian financial crisis as one of the main reason that derailed the modernization plans. But it's all about bad politics, corruptions, and plain stupidity from 1987 constitution.

From the same link above so im not reposting it again, here is another good read, part of that report/article:

Impetus for Military Reforms: The
Modernisation of the AFP
In September 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. In
building and consolidating his authoritarian regime, President Marcos used
the military as a primary means to exercise his political power. During his
reign from 1972 to 1986, the AFP served as a bastion of Marcos’ New
Society—enforcing his authority, arresting political opponents, staffing
civilian agencies, conducting civic actions, and neutralising subversive or
dissident groups.26 The early martial law period was also marked by the
government’s attempts to develop the capabilities of the AFP and enable it
to project an enhanced defense posture. The declaration of martial law,
the abolition of the Philippine Congress, the expansion of the AFP’s role
and mission, the outbreak of the Muslim secessionist rebellion in
Mindanao, and the general reluctance of the U.S. to provide the AFP with
some counterinsurgency weapons made the country realise that it would
have to supply its own armed forces with the necessary hardware for
internal defense.27

The AFP, specifically the PA, began to acquire various non-Americanmade
weapons system and equipment relative to its organisational
expansion in response to heightened Muslim insurgency in Mindanao.28
The government also initiated the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) in
1974, aimed at developing the domestic defense industry to provide the
necessary armaments and equipment to the Philippine military. Defense
officials contracted SRDP projects with the government arsenal and local
manufacturers, encouraging the use of indigenous resources and
production capability to equip the AFP so that it could perform its “basic
functions to move, shoot, communicate, and survive, free from external
intervention and influence.”

The Philippine government’s efforts towards an enhanced and independent
defense posture gained momentum during the late ‘80s. In 1989, the
Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP prepared various
long-term plans in the light of the U.N. General Assembly’s passage of
the Law of the Seas, the brewing territorial disputes in the South China
Sea, and the PN’s glaring inability to patrol and secure the country’s wide
maritime boundaries.30 The AFP top bass also pushed for the
modernisation of the PN by purchasing six Fast-Attack Crafts (FAC). The
military top brass argued that the PN had no missile and blue- water
capabilities and asked the Philippine Congress for funds to buy ships
needed for a sequential control of the country’s maritime territory.31 For
its part, the Philippine Senate encouraged the AFP to develop a 15-year
arms acquisition program as a hedge for a possible withdrawal of
American bases from the country and the consequent reduction of U.S.
military assistance to the Philippine armed forces. The Senate also
directed the AFP to formulate a general plan that would lessen the
country’s dependence on the U.S. security umbrella and to develop its
external defense capability.32 The Senate’s eventual decision not to ratify
the Philippine-American Cooperation Treaty (PACT) of 1991 compelled
the AFP to plan for a self-reliant defense capability through an initial 10-
year modernisation program. In its early version, the program focused on
developing the AFP’s conventional military strength through the purchase
of a much-needed equipment and weapons systems. Concretely, it
provided for the acquisition of all-weather interceptor planes, radar sites, a
fleet of surface ships, amphibious landing transport ships, and naval
gunfire support capability costing nearly Php140 billion (US$560 million
at the 1990 exchange rate) spread over a 10-year period.

^^F.M. actually abolished the Philippine Congress, and that save the government millions of pesos in revenues! How sweet it is eh? That's what gonna happen if the philippines go back to parliamentary system that the Aquino abolished in 1987. And this is where many bad politcians who care not about the best interest of the country in whole, but their own pockets. That's how stupid these selfish bastards are.

That's why, we need charter change as well, and used those saved revenues in upgrading the AFP immediately that is a super overdue.

^^ Another would be the presence of Communists-Maoists in our legislature. Recently nga may mga tumakbo as Senators :ohno:

Blessing sa new thread!

Bayan Muna, maraming komunista sa kanila kung di ako nagkakamali.

These Maoists are actually penetrating the schools as well brainwashing kids. Here in the US it's happening but nobody wants to engage them because of political correctness. That's what happening in the PHL as well. How easilly men forget history!

These Maoists are actually penetrating the schools as well brainwashing kids. Here in the US it's happening but nobody wants to engage them because of political correctness. That's what happening in the PHL as well. How easilly men forget history!

" History repeats itself, coz nobody cares to listen at 1st"

^^ if i were the President,... i will abolish the congress... and abolish the SK and party lists as well,... Non sense kasi ang mga ito... SK?? tinuturuan na mga bata para mangurakot... Party Lists? asyd from corruption, mga kupal pa mga to... hadlang sa pag unlad,... like the Bayan muna... mga komunista to eh...

^^ Not the Congress who are the direct representatives of the people of each province and district, but the Party List definitely has to be abolished, which has has been used a breeding ground for communists and other nonsense parties that merely compete for the top of the alphabetical list every elections. :lol: But... as long as the yellow house rules, dont expect to see any changes to this fked up constitution. :D

Meanwhile... the military buildup continues across the northwestern sea.

China boosts surveillance to protect maritime rights
By Jiji Press | AFP News


China is stepping up its maritime surveillance by hiring more staff and increasing the number of inspection ships, state media said Monday, amid deep-sea territorial disputes with neighbouring nations.

China Marine Surveillance, the country's ocean monitoring agency, will hire more than 1,000 people this year, raising staff numbers to "at least 10,000", the official China Daily said, citing CMS deputy director Sun Shuxian.

It will also buy 36 inspection ships over the next five years, the newspaper said. China currently has about 300 marine surveillance ships, it said.

Sun said China would "carry out regular sea patrols more frequently to strengthen law enforcement in Chinese-related waters to safeguard the country's marine rights in 2011".

"New equipment will be installed on part of the inspection fleet to improve law enforcement capacity," he added.

China has been embroiled in a bitter row with Japan over a disputed island chain in the East China Sea -- known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

China also insists that it has complete sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have competing claims.

There is growing concern over China's military expansion, which has gone hand-in-hand with breakneck economic growth.

US commanders have made it clear they are watching China's military build-up, particularly its naval reach into the South China Sea.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/china-boosts-surveillance-protect-maritime-rights-045636542.html

These Maoists are actually penetrating the schools as well brainwashing kids. Here in the US it's happening but nobody wants to engage them because of political correctness. That's what happening in the PHL as well. How easilly men forget history!

I'd say generally in the West...I mean the event of PC. Have you read the article I posted before on "Kiki"? :lol:

Sadly, it is gaining ground on the Philippines. PC itself is not bad, but the magnitude of PC in the West is detrimental to itself to the point it is self-destructive.

On the news, dedz na daw si Osama bin Laden. I dunno if this is good news or bad news. Marami kasi sa pamilya niya eh terrorista. Kaya baka may potential ng massive "revenge"

^^ Not the Congress who are the direct representatives of the people of each province and district, but the Party List definitely has to be abolished, which has has been used a breeding ground for communists and other nonsense parties that merely compete for the top of the alphabetical list every elections. :lol: But... as long as the yellow house rules, dont expect to see any changes to this fked up constitution. :D

Meanwhile... the military buildup continues across the northwestern sea.

Not a good one. We seriously need to internationalize this military build up of China and them "protecting" their "interest" in the South China Sea. Commie assh0les.

^^ if i were the President,... i will abolish the congress... and abolish the SK and party lists as well,... Non sense kasi ang mga ito... SK?? tinuturuan na mga bata para mangurakot... Party Lists? asyd from corruption, mga kupal pa mga to... hadlang sa pag unlad,... like the Bayan muna... mga komunista to eh...

wag naman buong congress. I think we still need the lower house to check the upperhouse. I agree though that we should abolish the partylist. They are using our system and MONEY to destroy our nation and be a Chinese vassal state!

That's actually true, and it falls on mismanagement and corruption of the funds. If you read the whole article, it does says something about it. The Magdalos knew it and was part of their grievances why the AFP were not able to upgrade its capabilities because of this rampant corruption by former chief of staff A. Reyes and others.

That's why if you can only notice, the whole article did not actually consider the 1997 asian financial crisis as one of the main reason that derailed the modernization plans. But it's all about bad politics, corruptions, and plain stupidity from 1987 constitution.

let's face it, even without/minimal corruption in the AFP..the funds released from 1995-2010 had very little impact.
____________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.manilatimes.net/news/nation/philippines-losing-billions-worth-of-natural-resources-yearly-%E2%80%93-afp/

"RA 7898, Deveraturda pointed out, provides that within 5 years, from the time the law was enacted in 1995 to 2000, P50 billion or P10 billion a year should be allotted to the AFP modernization program. This has not pushed through.

It was not until 2002, he added, that the AFP modernization trust fund got its P5.2 billion from the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and thereafter Congress allotted P5 billion yearly, starting in 2005 until the modernization law expired in 2010.

Of the P331 billion that was supposed to be allotted to the AFP modernization program, Deveraturda further said, only P33 billion plus had turned up.

But the P33 billion, he stressed, did not go to the external defense objective of the modernization law but was used instead on the capability upgrade program because the lead role on internal security operations was returned to the AFP."
_____________________________________________________________________________________

There you go, even without the pabaon/pasalubong scheme it is clear the funds allocated are simply not enough.

oh and btw, Osama Bin laden is dead.

Yo, OSama, I'm happy for you and I'm gonna let you finish, but Lacson played the best game of hide and seek of all time. OF ALL TIME.


LOL! edit

I just realized, the words Obama and Osama are one letter apart :lol:

DESTINY? :lol:

Hopefully, he gets his 72 virgins now :lol:

SWAG Battle Dress Attire (BDA)
http://stukaph.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sfr_tsa_lores.jpg

^^ Not the Congress who are the direct representatives of the people of each province and district, but the Party List definitely has to be abolished, which has has been used a breeding ground for communists and other nonsense parties that merely compete for the top of the alphabetical list every elections. :lol: But... as long as the yellow house rules, dont expect to see any changes to this fked up constitution. :D

Meanwhile... the military buildup continues across the northwestern sea.

^^ hmm well, ok... hehe hai, China... when are you gonna attack? :lol: AFP may do the modernization faster if China actually invade those islands already... even Enrille wants to modernize the military, i don't know with Pnoy if he's really serious bwt it but we obviously need more military power...

wag naman buong congress. I think we still need the lower house to check the upperhouse. I agree though that we should abolish the partylist. They are using our system and MONEY to destroy our nation and be a Chinese vassal state!

^^ edi i organize nalang ng mabuti... hehe... dapat nga wasakin muna natin mga hinayupak na yan, hadlang kasi eh lalo na sa mga country sides,... someone told me na they even ask for a revolutionary tax,... kung sino man di magbibigay ng shares niya ay pinapatay,... and thats so terrible,...

^^ totoo yun... maraming pakulo NPA... revolutionary tax vs people and corporations, then kapag election eh permit to win!

mga kunwari kontra so corruption eh mga promotor din pala!

Good news!With the problem in Libya and the death of Bin Laden there will be less financial support for Islamist mujaheddins and terrorists around the world including here in the Philippines. :cheers:

Breaking News: Al-Qaida head Osama bin Laden dead


By JULIE PEACE
May 2, 2011, 11:34am
Manila Bulletin


Osama bin Laden sits during an interview with Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir (not pictured) in an image supplied by the respected Dawn newspaper November 10, 2001. Bin Laden is dead and his body has been recovered by U.S. authorities. (REUTERS Photo)
Osama bin Laden sits during an interview with Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir (not pictured) in an image supplied by the respected Dawn newspaper November 10, 2001. Bin Laden is dead and his body has been recovered by U.S. authorities. (REUTERS Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was killed in an operation led by the United States.

A small team of Americans carried out the attack and took custody of bin Laden's remains, the president said Sunday in a dramatic late-night statement at the White House.

A jubilant crowd gathered outside the White House as word spread of bin Laden's death after a global manhunt that lasted nearly a decade.

"Justice has been done," the president said.

The development comes just months before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by bin Laden's al-Qaida organization, that killed more than 3,000 people.

The attacks set off a chain of events that led the United States into wars in Afghanistan, and then Iraq, and America's entire intelligence apparatus was overhauled to counter the threat of more terror attacks at home.

Al-Qaida was also blamed for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa that killed 231 people and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 American sailors in Yemen, as well as countless other plots, some successful and some foiled.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
President Barack Obama says Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was killed in an operation led by the United States.

A small team of Americans carried out the attack and took custody of bin Laden's remains, the president said Sunday in a dramatic late-night statement at the White House.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States, is dead, and the U.S. is in possession of his body, a person familiar with the situation said late Sunday.

President Barack Obama was expected to address the nation on the developments Sunday night.

Two senior counterterrorism officials confirmed that bin Laden was killed in Pakistan last week. One said bin Laden was killed in a ground operation, not by a Predator drone. Both said the operation was based on U.S. intelligence, and both said the U.S. is in possession of bin Laden's body.

Officials long believed bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world, was hiding a mountainous region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak ahead of the president.

The development comes just months before the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by bin Laden's al-Qaida organization, that killed more than 3,000 people.

The attacks set off a chain of events that led the United States into wars in Afghanistan, and then Iraq, and America's entire intelligence apparatus was overhauled to counter the threat of more terror attacks at home.

Al-Qaida organization was also blamed for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa that killed 231 people and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 American sailors in Yemen, as well as countless other plots, some successful and some foiled.

Click here for MB Online's earlier version of this story.

The government should talk as well as hit hard against that murderous Umbra Kato.

Test of MILF’s sincerity

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:36:00 04/29/2011

Filed Under: Mindanao peace process, Politics, Armed conflict

KATO WILL respect the peace negotiations. He will not commit any form of aggression. You should leave the problem (Kato) to us.”

Blithe, breezy, almost dismissive – that’s how Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s negotiating panel, tried to soothe the concerns aired by the Philippine government representatives regarding the splinter group, known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The group broke off from the MILF in 2008 and, led by former MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato, launched a series of deadly attacks against Christian communities in Mindanao, leaving nearly 400 people dead and 70,000 displaced.

Kato’s rampage not only effectively shattered the ceasefire that was then in effect between the government and the MILF. The renegade army’s existence and intentions are now posing major complications to any potential settlement the government and the MILF could hammer out in the latest talks aimed at ending the long-simmering separatist rebellion in the South.

“What assurances do we have that (Kato’s forces), if no longer MILF, will respect our ceasefire with the MILF? It would, most likely, be difficult to get the needed political critical mass to implement an agreement... if there are unaddressed splinter groups from your movement,” said Philippine government negotiator Marvic Leonen, addressing his Muslim counterparts on the other side of the table.

That’s a fair question, and an urgent one. A renegade army of a thousand heavily armed men roaming and potentially terrorizing the hinterland communities of Mindanao is not a trifling matter, certainly not one deserving of a casual “You should leave the problem to us” comment. Not when any peace agreement between the government and the South’s main Muslim group would hinge on a rigorous and good-faith enforcement of the terms of such agreement, free from the threat of sabotage by an unaccountable breakaway group.

Kato is “still part of the MILF and is considered an internal problem,” said Iqbal. Those sparse words, along with the reassurance that the rogue MILF commander and his forces “will respect the peace negotiations” and “will not commit any form of aggression,” unfortunately run up against what has been the BIFF’s short but bloody history so far.

The MILF’s “internal problem,” after all, stands accused of the 2008 attacks – which Kato, in a recent letter to this paper, tried to justify by saying they were only a retaliatory response to ceasefire violations allegedly committed by the military. Whatever the explanation, his rampage only raised questions about the MILF’s ability – or willingness – to rein in its former commander. Kato, to use Iqbal’s words, is its problem. So what did the MILF do to mitigate the violence he and his men inflicted in Mindanao?

Given the BIFF’s past acts of aggression and the MILF’s apparent failure to stop them, Iqbal’s wan response to the Philippine panel’s demands for accountability for Kato and his splinter group comes up disappointingly short. The fuzziness of it, on such a grave issue, betrays a rather cavalier attitude toward the mutual trust-building required by the peace process.

Consider the perils: The BIFF, if left unchecked and un-disbanded, could ignite a new war in the region, wreak havoc on the peace talks and send the negotiations back to square one. By now, the decades-old Mindanao cauldron has left some 150,000 people dead and the region itself a chronic basket case.

Clearly, a major stumbling block to peace like Kato is no longer the MILF’s sole problem. While the government panel is expected to extend respect and trust to its Muslim counterparts for the negotiations to bear fruit, it must do more than blindly rely on the other party’s casual assurances that it is up to the task of policing its own ranks.

The panel must press the MILF to offer concrete measures, backed by transparent and verifiable steps, on how it would resolve the question of Kato and his renegade group. As things stand, that is not an unfair or unwarranted demand. If the MILF wants to be taken seriously as a peace partner, it must show it is serious about living up to its obligations – beginning with making sure its unruly spawn will not stand in the way of renewed efforts for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

http://images.inquirer.net/media/opinion/inquireropinion/editorial/images/pic-04300518300929.jpg

http://images.inquirer.net/media/opinion/inquireropinion/editorial/images/pic-04300518300929.jpg

^^ :lol::lol:

funny how after exactly 2 decades, the US bases are forced out again in Asia after another act of God mmm :lol: :jk:

but seriously, i hope the Philippines gets its share of the base transfers from Okinawa as well, especially now that the buildup in Guam is becoming too costly for the recession-hit US with calamity-hit Japan unable to help. Obama should influence former Boston resident PNOY to at least have some of their units relocated in existing facilities here that will also be for our own benefit against the marching reds. :)

Not a good one. We seriously need to internationalize this military build up of China and them "protecting" their "interest" in the South China Sea. Commie assh0les. I am thinking of 2 ways. First way is to strengthen a S. Korea-Japan-Taiwan-Philippines Western Pacific Quadruple Alliance (of course with the US to cover our backs) or the Second Way is to strengthen an ASEAN United to claim all of the Spratleys. Face it, each individual ASEAN claimant is much closer to the Spratleys than China and with a unified voice something’s gotta give.

Or a third possible way is for the Philippines to become a nuclear power like Pakistan and invade the Spratleys solo.:D :nocrook:
wag naman buong congress. I think we still need the lower house to check the upperhouse. I agree though that we should abolish the partylist. They are using our system and MONEY to destroy our nation and be a Chinese vassal state! I concur. Korek ka diyan.The government should talk as well as hit hard against that murderous Umbra Kato. Ahhh, Bless you, Bless you lad. Now here is a lad who’s wise… :D Hit hard, hit fast :banana:

On top of a US Comeback, possible bases in GenSan or Siquijor or Palawan, we should also invite Israeli consultants and encourage investments in defense and armaments projects here. Consider this, a tiny neighbour of ours hosts a sizable US military presence coz I often see US servicemen & service-women in civvies at the Tanah Merah main train station for their weekend R&R. On top of the US presence I also know they do have IDF consultants due to the similarities of 2 small countries & how they develop an effective but compact fighting force.

Oh btw kahawig ko si 0:07 sa sideview :D :D
24bOclbE_eg

^^

i wish that our AFP is as strong as the IDF,... but sadly, it never gonna happen while corruption will remain rampant in our country...

^^ Not the Congress who are the direct representatives of the people of each province and district, but the Party List definitely has to be abolished, which has has been used a breeding ground for communists and other nonsense parties that merely compete for the top of the alphabetical list every elections. :lol: But... as long as the yellow house rules, dont expect to see any changes to this fked up constitution. :D

Meanwhile... the military buildup continues across the northwestern sea.

I agree.

SWAG Battle Dress Attire (BDA)
http://stukaph.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sfr_tsa_lores.jpg

I thought they were gonna make some digital-tiger camo scheme. No?

let's face it, even without/minimal corruption in the AFP..the funds released from 1995-2010 had very little impact.
____________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.manilatimes.net/news/nation/philippines-losing-billions-worth-of-natural-resources-yearly-%E2%80%93-afp/

"RA 7898, Deveraturda pointed out, provides that within 5 years, from the time the law was enacted in 1995 to 2000, P50 billion or P10 billion a year should be allotted to the AFP modernization program. This has not pushed through.

It was not until 2002, he added, that the AFP modernization trust fund got its P5.2 billion from the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and thereafter Congress allotted P5 billion yearly, starting in 2005 until the modernization law expired in 2010.

Of the P331 billion that was supposed to be allotted to the AFP modernization program, Deveraturda further said, only P33 billion plus had turned up.

But the P33 billion, he stressed, did not go to the external defense objective of the modernization law but was used instead on the capability upgrade program because the lead role on internal security operations was returned to the AFP."


You don't understand, and you will never understand this if you don't even care to read more. The one logic you been insisting was an old school escape goats by those stupid officials (adroth was one of those stupid person who used this escape goat in timawa). It clearly took many more years of delays when some honest officials did discover this corruption and all other anomalies. So in contrast to what you said twice already, atleast without the corruption, the 1995 AFP modernization would have definitely proceed in acquiring atleast part of the procurement process the following yr even before the 1997 financial crisis. Granted that the government did lack the political will, but atleast again without the corruption we could have been in a very different situation right now. Back then the budget was not really the main source and reason why it never happened, if you know what i mean.

And that is exactly the reason why they released a very few billion pesos, way below the original alloted budget, because the government didn't trust the military officials and had been reluctant to support the modernization, this means they lack political will to do so.

AND if you only read more, AND FOR a dozen times i repeatedly said this to you, the report clearly blamed the government's lack of support, the corruptions, the mismanagement of the funds (instead of directing the revenues from bases-convertion, it was redirected to the national budget and went untouched that eventually misused) and the 1987 constitution. The financial crisis did little effect in AFP modernization, but it was ultimately the government's fault that really counted with all those shit the article/report/investigation have mentioned.

In fairness, you can't blame them per se when they didnt trust them, but they could have done something right by rooting out those corrupt officials long time ago, but a lot of this people were also supporting the corruptions.

Anyway in short, the RP have enough budget that can support the modernization only if they will do more redirection of national budget from national revenue savings by the government. It's just that they DIDNT WANT to support the military 100% til now. RP government officials have this character of not prioritizing the security forces, always been the last one to get the money.

Well atleast PNoy has done something by redirecting some budget from agriculture to military. It will take a very long time to recover all those stolen funds by the officials who got involved in this corruption. Although the government doesnt have to rely from those stolen funds to finally continue the AFP modernization 100%, but they NEED this 100% poltical will and support. And with this present procurement plans, this is the time now to never let up.

^^

i wish that our AFP is as strong as the IDF,... but sadly, it never gonna happen while corruption will remain rampant in our country...

...and more funds be given on the modernization program.

I agree.



I thought they were gonna make some digital-tiger camo scheme. No?



You don't understand, and you will never understand this if you don't even care to read more.

That is exactly the reason why they released a very few billion pesos, way below the original alloted budget, because the government didn't trust the military officials and had been reluctant to support the modernization, this means they lack political will to do so.

In fairness, you can't blame them per se when they didnt trust them, but they could have done something right by rooting out those corrupt officials long time ago, but a lot of this people were also supporting the corruptions.

Anyway in short, the RP have enough budget that can support the modernization only if they will do more redirection of national budget from national revenue savings by the government. It's just that they DIDNT WANT to support the military 100% til now. RP government officials have this character of not prioritizing the security forces, always been the last one to get the money.

Well atleast PNoy has done something by redirecting some budget from agriculture to military. It will take long time to recover all those stolen funds by the officials who got involved in this corruption.

I agree.

yes, how can a commie-ridden congress (which approves the budget) trust/give support to the military in the first place? :nuts:

Oh btw, it's not just the congress but the commander-in-chiefs as well...Have you noticed how fast the hamilton was acquired with Pnoy's blessing? compare that to GMA or Erap's. I say it's quite good to have a president who loves guns.

I agree.

yes, how can a commie-ridden congress (which approves the budget) trust/give support to the military in the first place? :nuts:

Oh btw, it's not just the congress but the commander-in-chiefs as well...Have you noticed how fast the hamilton was acquired with Pnoy's blessing? compare that to GMA or Erap's. I say it's quite good to have a president who loves guns.

Sorry i had to edit my last post, marami akong nalimutan kasing banggitin, so if you want you can read it again.

Yes thats part of the reason, never na talaga tayo babangon kung merong nangugulo sa bansa natin at sa loob ng gobyerno mismo natin.

Kasalanan kasi ito ng 1st Aquino administration when she abolished the constitution and ultimately started to forgive those communist prisoners and even let them in to serve the government. That amnesty program was a good deed but is full of flaws. They should have never let them serve and should have banned them from serving the government because of their indifferent ideologies, dapat hinayaan nalang talaga nila silang mamuhay ng mapayapa as ordinary citizens after the government forgave them.

So like what i said, they should never let up anything now in this AFP modernization, as it needed the full support of the government.

The immediate acquisition of this coast guard ships are just part of their procurement plans to fill the gap they left more than 15 yrs ago, marami na silang utang sa AFP dahil hindi naayos ng mga past administration agad yung mga corruptions and the little support they gave to our soldiers. Bumabawi lang sila ngayon ng pang madalian. So hopefully now everything will go smooth.

^^Ang AFP merong mga Horizon 1, 2, 3 modernization program that is now being followed.

http://images.inquirer.net/media/opinion/inquireropinion/editorial/images/pic-04300518300929.jpg

http://images.inquirer.net/media/opinion/inquireropinion/editorial/images/pic-04300518300929.jpg


Pabagobago isip ng mga kano, dahil sa china din. Ngayon instead na dumeretso sila sa Guam where a new military base is being built, baka bumalik nalang sila sa pilipinas - a highly possible dream actually, sa tingin ko lang.

^^ highly possible, yet would most probably be highly unpopular. Masakit mang sabihin, sa palagay ko madaling makontra ng militant protests ang issue na yan. It's not yet the time given masyadong conscious si Pnoy sa approval ratings niya.

My wild dreams:
Chinese troops land on a Philippine-held island in the Spratleys or may mapalubog/mapabagsak silang AFP asset na magiging big news globally without escalating to full scale conflict.

That way sigurado lahat ng emergency powers/funds galing sa US mabibigay sa AFP para makabili ng mas bagong gamit.

We badly need more catalysts. Minsan naisip ko pwede namang gumawa ng bluff ang AFP na may nawawalang barko/eroplano sa may spratleys without saying na may direct involvement ang Chinese. Which happened about 5 year ago (as far as i can remember) - may S211 na nawala sa may Spratleys together with its crew...tapos walang nangyari at MIA pa rin sila. IMHO parang may kakaiba sa incident na yun. Kakatakot isipin. Goosebumps.

^^I hope it wasn't the chinese who actually shot down that S211. Aba talagang gyera nayan.... Word war lang kasi walang ipapalag pa ang pilipinas. :lol:

Kasalanan kasi ito ng 1st Aquino administration when she abolished the constitution and ultimately started to forgive those communist prisoners and even let them in to serve the government. That amnesty program was a good deed but is full of flaws. They should have never let them serve and should have banned them from serving the government because of their indifferent ideologies, dapat hinayaan nalang talaga nila silang mamuhay ng mapayapa as ordinary citizens after the government forgave them.



Dapat yung mga officials ng commie groups eh di nabigyan ng amnesty. Mga nasa lower ranks na ituto, yes pero human rights violators like Teddy Ocampo, Joma, Satur should have served justice.

^^Uy di ako si mercato ha! :lol:

Pero syempre totoo yan kung pusible nga lang talaga, that is the most perfect scenario na wala na silang pinatawad na mga komunista dapat.

Nagsira ng ulo ang SSC. di ko pinalitan yan, quote quote lang :lol:

May post nga ako before yung reply ko na yan , ewan kung saan napunta. :lol:

---

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/05/02/11/world-praise-vigilance-after-osama-bin-laden-killing

what will the US do with Pakistan now? Oh well, it's long believed na dun siya nagkukuta

...and more funds be given on the modernization program.

^^ and more money yung mai-bubulsa ng mga kupal :D

GRP Reaction to Bin Laden's Death..
Just when you thought it's all over haha, we still have our own bin ladens in the country to stamp out, like this Umbra Kato and the ASG. :D Makes you wonder how our AFP is coping with all this stress.. on top of the Spratlys mission, the communist NPA, modernization and corruption issues. :lol:
But i hope the AFP is right in saying this will lead to the eventual demise of the JI and Abu Sayyaf..

PHL on alert for possible retaliation
MONDAY, 02 MAY 2011 21:17

WHILE proclaiming that the death of Osama bin Laden signals a “defeat” for extremists and terrorists, President Aquino on Monday stressed that we should not be lulled into complacency, as he assured the public that the government has taken “all relevant precautions and steps” to ensure their safety.

In a statement read by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Mr. Aquino said, “The world must continue to consistently and courageously raise its collective voice against religious hatred, political intolerance, and terrorism of all kinds. We must remain vigilant and united in pursuing peace, pluralism, and collective efforts at security.”

The President added that the death of bin Laden “is not just an achievement for the United States but for the Philippines as well” as “it has brought justice to over a dozen Filipinos who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center.”

“Together with my national security team, we continue to take all relevant precautions and steps to ensure the safety of our people. We, as a democratic and free people, remain committed to fighting terrorism and are in solidarity with the peoples of the United Nations,” he said.

Lacierda said in a news briefing that the President is in “constant communication” with National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, and with the Armed Forces, the National Police, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) “so everything is in place—the necessary precautions are there.”

Asked whether the government is prepared for possible retaliatory attacks in the wake of bin Laden’s death, Lacierda said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been “on full alert” since Holy Week while Armed Forces Chief Gen. Eduardo Oban has directed military intelligence officials “to do an assessment of the situation” and for operations officials “to monitor the situation in Mindanao.”

“The PNP, on the other hand, has increased its security patrols over the diplomatic areas and we are making sure that the areas of convergence are all protected and enhanced. There’s a hardening of target areas,” he said.


Following the news of bin Laden’s death on Monday, authorities immediately put into place the tightest security alert at the Naia to prevent any attempts by “sleeper cells” or any terrorists from doing harm.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose “Angel” Honrado ordered his assistant general manager for security and emergency services retired Major General Vicente Guerzon Jr., to place the entire Airport
in full alert.

“We have placed Naia and other airports in the country on heightened alert effective 12 noon [Monday] in connection with the death of Osama bin Laden,” Guerzon said.

As a precautionary measure, Guerzon said he has placed security measures that shall immediately respond to any form of terrorist attack. Strict implementation of access on personnel and vehicles are in place and personnel are instructed to conduct rigid inspection on all vehicles going to the airport or any place within the Naia complex. Police visibility has also been intensified while authorities doubled its K-9 patrols at the terminals and its perimeters.

However, Guerzon added that there is no clear threat to the Naia at the moment.

Lacierda said the government has always maintained a high level of vigilance against terrorism and “because of this unprecedented event, we’re making sure that all the agencies are in place and all the steps are in place.”

“Right now, we are not aware of any possible retaliatory attacks but, again, we are—like the President said—we have taken all relevant precautions and steps to ensure the security and safety of our people,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda also said the government has “a study and an assessment” on the strength of the Abu Sayyaf, which is known to have links with al-Qaeda, but declined to give details.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said in a press statement that as chair of the Antiterrorism Council, he has “reiterated to our national security agencies the importance of maintaining ongoing measures to secure our country from terrorist threats.”

“We ask the public to be alert and request your cooperation as we continue to work to ensure the safety of our people,”

The military expressed confidence the death of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden will lead to the isolation of the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that would lead to its eventual demise.

For his part, Oban said the death of the foremost international terrorist on the US list will cut the ties of the local bandits with the al-Qaeda-linked Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI).

“The AFP is optimistic that Osama’s death would lead to the eventual demise of the link of the local terrorist group with the JI which has links with bin Laden’s Al Qaeda,” he said.

Oban said the death of the terrorist leader should boost the government’s campaign not only against his local believers and supporters but even with all lawless groups, as this would give the military the opportunity to concentrate with the IPSP Bayanihan.

Still, the military chief said they would maintain their vigilance, especially in Mindanao, owing to the possible retaliatory attacks from the Abu Sayyaf, other lawless groups and even the JI, whose some members were reported to be present in the country.

But while the military raised its vigilance, military spokesman Comm. Miguel Rodriguez said they do not need to augment their forces in Mindanao and even in Metro Manila as measures have been put in place.

“We are always vigilant. Maybe they [local rebel groups] are thinking of a retaliatory act but we are always prepared for that because these are expected,” he said.

In Mindanao, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer placed on alert all the troops within Wesmincom area in preparation for a possible retaliatory attack from bin Laden’s terrorist network.

“While it will negatively affect the morale of his terrorist network, we cannot discount that some of his followers will plan for retaliatory actions,” Ferrer said.

“To this, we have alerted our units of possible repercussion of bin Laden’s death,” he added.

Wesmincom troops are also continuously pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits, a local militant group with links with the JI, bin Laden al-Qaeda’s terrorist cell in Asia, in Western Mindanao.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding captive Filipino-Chinese businessman Largio Tam Delos Santos, 59, who owns a resort and a restaurant. The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped de los Santos from his resort in barangay Lanote, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province, last December 16.

Another Filipino-Chinese businessman identified as Nelson Lim, 67, was recently kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province of Sulu.

A coalition of several civil-society organizations that worked closely in the peace process in Mindanao expressed doubt that violence would cease “with the death of another one of those personalities they ascribed to the aggression in many parts of the world.”

“Would it stop the Abu Sayyaf from continuing its attacks and issue threats?” asked Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of the Mindanao People’s Caucus, which was granted an observer status in the talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

She said that US and allied forces have stopped Saddam Hussein and neutralized Iraq, “but the story of aggression [against the US] has continued.”

I agree.

yes, how can a commie-ridden congress (which approves the budget) trust/give support to the military in the first place? :nuts:

Oh btw, it's not just the congress but the commander-in-chiefs as well...Have you noticed how fast the hamilton was acquired with Pnoy's blessing? compare that to GMA or Erap's. I say it's quite good to have a president who loves guns.

^^ i love Gun's,... :D at pangarap ko rin maging sundalo balang araw... :) coz i wanna defend my country and maintain peace in our society...

^^ highly possible, yet would most probably be highly unpopular. Masakit mang sabihin, sa palagay ko madaling makontra ng militant protests ang issue na yan. It's not yet the time given masyadong conscious si Pnoy sa approval ratings niya.

My wild dreams:
Chinese troops land on a Philippine-held island in the Spratleys or may mapalubog/mapabagsak silang AFP asset na magiging big news globally without escalating to full scale conflict.

That way sigurado lahat ng emergency powers/funds galing sa US mabibigay sa AFP para makabili ng mas bagong gamit.

We badly need more catalysts. Minsan naisip ko pwede namang gumawa ng bluff ang AFP na may nawawalang barko/eroplano sa may spratleys without saying na may direct involvement ang Chinese. Which happened about 5 year ago (as far as i can remember) - may S211 na nawala sa may Spratleys together with its crew...tapos walang nangyari at MIA pa rin sila. IMHO parang may kakaiba sa incident na yun. Kakatakot isipin. Goosebumps.

^^ kahit di na umapak ng spratley's,... Torpedo attacks lang, palubugin yung Rajah Humabon,... magkaka gulo na yun,... and malamang mas bibilis pa modernization natin...

^^ Kung mangyari man yan, baka hindi lang bibilis modernization...baka mamaya eh may access na tayo sa loans..makakautang tayo ng high tech gadgets :lol:

GRP Reaction to Bin Laden's Death..
Just when you thought it's all over haha, we still have our own bin ladens in the country to stamp out, like this Umbra Kato and the ASG. :D Makes you wonder how our AFP is coping with all this stress.. on top of the Spratlys mission, the communist NPA, modernization and corruption issues. :lol:
But i hope the AFP is right in saying this will lead to the eventual demise of the JI and Abu Sayyaf..

^^ if i were the president,... my priority is to eliminate bad elements in our country and internal threats,... maintaining peace and order is a sure key to success,... specially coz the Philippines has many capabilities, we can shine again,... from economy, military, Big brains and down to talents like dancing and music...

^^Ang AFP merong mga Horizon 1, 2, 3 modernization program that is now being followed.

^^ na delayed nga lang,... and did they have different plans for this??

^^ Kung mangyari man yan, baka hindi lang bibilis modernization...baka mamaya eh may access na tayo sa loans..makakautang tayo ng high tech gadgets :lol:

^^ and later cguro di lang tayo mag lo-loan pero bibili na talaga tayo ng mga high tech na gadgets hehe specially sa spratleys... :D

if it happens na mabili pa natin yung 2 hammies... for me, its good to deploy 2 hammies on the spratleys and 1 in Southern Mindanao (Philippines-Malaysia sea border),... kasi cguro dun dinadaan yung armas ng mga Rebelde and dun rin maraming smugglers...

^^ sana magkaroon tayo nito,...

Mistral Missile System,...

0sq0ZTbiBaA

^^It's like they just hit an african beehive!

^^ Kung mangyari man yan, baka hindi lang bibilis modernization...baka mamaya eh may access na tayo sa loans..makakautang tayo ng high tech gadgets :lol:

We might end up like israel, baka lang tulungan tayo ng todo ng US, im sure mapipilitan silang tulungan talaga tayo. Otherwise maraming magagalit na pinoyski, baka pati yung mga pinoyski navy personnels aboard US naval ships magwala! :lol:

^^ if i were the president,... my priority is to eliminate bad elements in our country and internal threats,... maintaining peace and order is a sure key to success,... specially coz the Philippines has many capabilities, we can shine again,... from economy, military, Big brains and down to talents like dancing and music...



^^ na delayed nga lang,... and did they have different plans for this??

Ang pagkkaalam ko, each military branches have their own Phase 1, 2, 3. Such as the Horizon 1, 2, and 3 for the airforce if im not mistaken. It's been a while now since i read the AFP Modernization Program. Yes i also heard that it was delayed again, but i thought everything now is being followed, except that some deals are being reviewed by this administration.

^^ Uu nga, mapipilitan sila eventually. Once the Phils falls in Chinese hands, their influence in the region would be really weaken. We're the only country who religiously support the US. :lol:

^^ Uu nga, mapipilitan sila eventually. Once the Phils falls in Chinese hands, their influence in the region would be really weaken. We're the only country who religiously support the US. :lol:
One of the reasons I guess is that we embody the same democratic principles with the US and we are a Christian country. That makes a big difference from other Asian countries.

^^ Helps being a former colony (commonwealth?) and being former host to their biggest bases outside the mainland...

downside though, mga gurang sa gobyerno eh todo asa keh Uncle. :ohno:..tapos kapag di inispoil ni Uncle sila pa may gana magalit :lol:

GRP Reaction to Bin Laden's Death..
Just when you thought it's all over haha, we still have our own bin ladens in the country to stamp out, like this Umbra Kato and the ASG. :D Makes you wonder how our AFP is coping with all this stress.. on top of the Spratlys mission, the communist NPA, modernization and corruption issues. :lol:
But i hope the AFP is right in saying this will lead to the eventual demise of the JI and Abu Sayyaf..

Osama's death opens up the opportunity: It will significantly cut their funding and resources. It's high time for our military to decimate them while it's fresh.

^^ if i were the president,... my priority is to eliminate bad elements in our country and internal threats,... maintaining peace and order is a sure key to success,... specially coz the Philippines has many capabilities, we can shine again,... from economy, military, Big brains and down to talents like dancing and music...



^^ na delayed nga lang,... and did they have different plans for this??

Exactamento! :lol:

One of the reasons I guess is that we embody the same democratic principles with the US and we are a Christian country. That makes a big difference from other Asian countries.

Democracy does not matter one bit wheter we get financial support or not Egypt and Pakistan or Israel for that matter all recieve more than we do yet non are true democracies ... .

Osama's death opens up the opportunity: It will significantly cut their funding and resources. It's high time for our military to decimate them while it's fresh.

True, i hope his death will finally put an end to our mujahideens at home and in our borders as well. However this news says the opposite. :ohno:

Asian jihadis to fight without Osama bin Laden
Posted: 03 May 2011 1012 hrs

JAKARTA: Southeast Asian terror networks appear to believe the killing of Osama bin Laden by US special forces in Pakistan is the equivalent of a bloody nose, rather than a body blow, to their jihadist cause.

"If the news is true, we should all be happy," read the reaction to the news on an Indonesian website run by a convicted terrorist accomplice known as the "Prince of Jihad".

"It was his dream to die as a martyr in the way of Allah," it continued.

"Muslims need not worry. With or without Sheikh Osama, jihad will continue and God-willing, other Sheikh Osamas will emerge to replace him."

Southeast Asia jihadist movements such as Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines have cooperated with and been inspired by Al-Qaeda, but their aims and means are independent, experts said.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1126434/1/.html

One of the reasons I guess is that we embody the same democratic principles with the US and we are a Christian country. That makes a big difference from other Asian countries.

Democracy does not matter one bit wheter we get financial support or not Egypt and Pakistan or Israel for that matter all recieve more than we do yet non are true democracies ... .

Haha! funny you said that, thats the biggest irony of this whole US-RP relations thing. we maybe the biggest supporters of the US, we copied their democracy, allowed them to set up bases here and stuff, but that support was never reciprocated by the US or translated to financial support or economic developments.. So while i still see the US as an important ally and partner of PHL, im not really as enthusiastic anymore.. cos how long were the US bases here for in Subic and Clark? Compared to those other host countries, we were even a colony and a commonwealth of the US for some time and yet, they didnt even bother fixing our economy, no big amount of aid to start up our own industries, the land reforms, and stuff. Not when we were a commonwealth or even prior to that. Post-WWII reconstruction they left, post-Pinatubo eruption they left once again. So i have this doubt that even if the US bases were to return to the country now, they'd be of a real assistance to our economy. But militarily and for security, yes we need them. :)

Pakyawin na natin yng mga Hamiltons ng US at lagyan agad ng ani-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.

Kahit siguro luma mga Hamiltons na ito ay mas matibay keysa sa mga bapor na gawa ng China na siguradong pirated ang quality. So baka may laban tayo.:lol:

China announces naval buildup to enforce claims


Manila Standard
May 3, 2011

BEIJING—China says it is adding 36 new ships in five years to beef up the enforcement of the country’s vast maritime claims in the South China Sea.

China Marine Surveillance says it will add 1,000 officers this year to raise staffing to 10,000 and will buy 36 new ships over the next five years.

The official China Daily reported Monday that the agency now had 300 vessels of all types, along with 10 aircraft.

The paper said the increased capacity was needed to deal with a rising number of disputes involving China and other countries that share overlapping claims to the waters and island groups in the South China and East China seas.

The Philippines said in March that it planned to acquire patrol ships, aircraft and an air defense radar system to assert its claims.

Last month, Taiwan announced that the more than 100 coast guard troops stationed in a disputed area of the South China Sea would be trained by the Defense Ministry’s elite Marine Corps to carry out sea combat.

Some or all of the Spratly Islands and their surrounding waters are claimed by Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Taiwanese troops will be trained to carry out sea combat and the prevention of amphibious attack, including landings by other countries’ forces.

This will be the first time since 2000 that Taiwan will have combat-ready troops in the region, considered one of the most dangerous areas in Asia for tensions escalating into armed conflict.

Sun Shuxian, a deputy director of the China Marine Surveillance, told the China Daily that the ocean monitoring agency had about 300 marine surveillance ships, including 30 ships rated over 1,000 tons, and 10 planes, including four helicopters.

Last year, the CMS added 12 inspection ships and built six marine surveillance branches, Shuxian said.

According to the China Ocean Development Report 2011 released by CMS, for the past 30 years, about 150 ports and harbors have been built and another 18 will be built covering 2,251 kilometers of coastline, about 13 percent of China’s total. AP

matanong ko nga pala ano pa lang nangyari sa mga polish choppers na inorder????

Pakyawin na natin yng mga Hamiltons ng US at lagyan agad ng ani-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.

Kahit siguro luma mga Hamiltons na ito ay mas matibay keysa sa mga bapor na gawa ng China na siguradong pirated ang quality. So baka may laban tayo.:lol:

^^ yah, ok naman yung Hamilton's ah... isama mo na rin yung anti-submarine kasi may mga submarines din yung China,... and we need even more knowing that China is getting stronger...

hahaha... Peke lahat ng armas nila :lol: :nuts:

True, i hope his death will finally put an end to our mujahideens at home and in our borders as well. However this news says the opposite. :ohno:

^^ nung panahon ni Erap natapos naman yan kaagad eh without even modernizing our military,... kayang kaya natin yan basta di lang isama yung Politika like number of voters and negosyo...

all out war lang kailangan dun, peace talks will never work... since before may peace talks na, wala naman nangyayari...

Democracy does not matter one bit wheter we get financial support or not Egypt and Pakistan or Israel for that matter all recieve more than we do yet non are true democracies ... .
It's not about the financial assistance that I'm talking about but the alliances. Look at Egypt and Pakistan which are not 100 percent democracies and are heavily influenced by Islam. Their relationship with the US is deteriorating. Pakistan hiding Usama close to their capital and a lot of Taliban sympathizers, and Egypt influenced right now by Muslim Brotherhood which is anti-US ans Israel. The only one close to the US is Israel. And whether we like it or not, democracy and Islam doesn't compliment each other. It's just the nature of the religion which considers secular democracies as something evil.

And wherever you are right now, you wouldn't want to be in those types of countries that would like Sharia law implemented. If the Philippines were a muslim country it would have been a different ballgame. Whether we want to admit or not, Christianity and authentic democratic institutions compliment each other, and here lies the key to our alliance with the US.

Democracy does not matter one bit wheter we get financial support or not Egypt and Pakistan or Israel for that matter all recieve more than we do yet non are true democracies ... .
Honestly, when I read that the US is aiding Pakistan, it really puzzled me. Esp that they know that Pakistan is huddling terrorists. Now OBL is dead and was learned to have been living near their military academy, I would be of interest how the US will deal now with Pakistan

Haha! funny you said that, thats the biggest irony of this whole US-RP relations thing. we maybe the biggest supporters of the US, we copied their democracy, allowed them to set up bases here and stuff, but that support was never reciprocated by the US or translated to financial support or economic developments.. So while i still see the US as an important ally and partner of PHL, im not really as enthusiastic anymore.. cos how long were the US bases here for in Subic and Clark? Compared to those other host countries, we were even a colony and a commonwealth of the US for some time and yet, they didnt even bother fixing our economy, no big amount of aid to start up our own industries, the land reforms, and stuff. Not when we were a commonwealth or even prior to that. Post-WWII reconstruction they left, post-Pinatubo eruption they left once again. So i have this doubt that even if the US bases were to return to the country now, they'd be of a real assistance to our economy. But militarily and for security, yes we need them.

Im not a rabid pro American either aside from our country i live in Europe and i am generally more pro the development of a unified European defence system a project which is underway, however when it comes to the Asia-Pacific region especially ASEAN which is more divided than Europe and unlike Europe has fewer ressources to counter the likes of China, i do hold a more pragmatic view because i understand that the US is the only power in the region that is able and willing to do anything about it .

With regards the history i think it is overstated that the Americans had not done enough for us, if the Spanish/American war did not occur in 1898 it was highly doubtful that we would have gained our independence from Spain because at the very same moment a powerful Spanish fleet with reinforcements were enroute to the country with the intent of crushing the revolt, the only thing that made the fleet and reinforcements turn back was the loss of the Spanish battle squadron in the battles around Cuba which meant that Spain had to use its remaining capital ships to protect Spain proper .

Other countries like Germany which actually had a more powerfull naval fleet than Commodore Dewey and other nations navies were parked in Manila bay watching the battle and the Germans in particular would have taken us over as a colony had Spain left, so we were fucked either way and it was the lesser of multiple evils that it was the US rather than Germany or even Japan that ended up taking over after Spain and unlike those other powers they did gave us a timeframe for independence and true societal modernisation, our country and Manila blossomed and was quite advanced under American rule and the commonwealth era .

Then came ww2 the Americans actually gave us arms, and training prior to the war stuff which an independent Phillippine republican could only dream of procuring on it's own pilot Basa would never had a plane without American help, and then came the liberation once again the Americans spent alot of money and lives to liberate us from Japan, the idea that we would have been safe if the Americans were not here is bogus because our country was too important strategically for Japan in order to secure the Dutch East Indies oil fields and Malaya's rubber .

After the war well we were Independent and im sure the Phillippines did recieve help of various types the organisation USAID has been there for 50 years, we also got free equipment from the US army i mean for instance where did our iconic "Jeepneys" come from ?, they were left by the Americans ... .

With regards US bases the Phillippines unlike most other major allied host countries does not pay "host nation support" for those bases, Japan and Germany for example which houses alot more US bases and personnel spend billions of $ every year on "host nation support" this means building strcutures providing security and other support for the bases, on the contrary the Phillippines got paid "rent" which was the opposite of how these things usually go elsewhere like S.Korea, Japan, Germany .

Furthermore if we think about it most of our equipment especially the heavy stuff like ships and aircraft since WW2 to the present have basically been donated by the Americans, we would never have been able to own all those saber jets or F5 freedom fighters without the help of the US .

Finally i think it is wrong to always expect the Americans to do everything for us, if we expect the Americans to build up and subsidise our economy and our military then why did we ask for independence in the first place ?, we should have then simply asked to remain a commonwealth like Puerto Rico ... .

In the meantime our country has put in place highly restrictive economic policies so that we have a relatively closed economy which makes it very hard for foreign investors to invest in our country, if our country erect these barriers on top of the corruption and the crime etc can we still truelly complain that few invest in us ?, and how come countries like Singapore which were just a bunch of Bahay Kubo's a century ago have managed to turn themselves into something how about S.Korea ? .

Our economy and our defence is our responsibility we should count ourselves lucky that the Americans even cared to help us with the things they have over the past decades ... .

Do we really want our country to be like those in our population who rely on the aid of relatives working or living overseas and expect to have money and stuff handed to them for free ?, and if they don't give us any do we really have a right to get angry or should we be thankful for whatever they gave us ? .

Like i said im not that pro American but we can't lie to ourselves either and also at this point there is no other choice ... .

Honestly, when I read that the US is aiding Pakistan, it really puzzled me. Esp that they know that Pakistan is huddling terrorists.

It's not about the financial assistance that I'm talking about but the alliances. Look at Egypt and Pakistan which are not 100 percent democracies and are heavily influenced by Islam. Their relationship with the US is deteriorating. Pakistan hiding Usama close to their capital and a lot of Taliban sympathizers, and Egypt influenced right now by Muslim Brotherhood which is anti-US ans Israel. The only one close to the US is Israel. And whether we like it or not, democracy and Islam doesn't compliment each other. It's just the nature of the religion which considers secular democracies as something evil.

Well guys there is a reason for this and it is simply strategic, to ensure Israels existence the US promised to aid Egypt in return for the peace accords between Egypt and Israel this is why Egypt under Mubarak has largely refrained from being too anti Israel .

So the Egypt case exist because of Egypts strategic position on the Suez canal and its peace accords with Israel this was the grand bargain that sealed the deal, it had split the Arab alliance between Egypt and Syria vs Israel and made Egypt turn away from a Soviet client state to a US client state during the cold war .

With regards Pakistan well where is Americas largest and most active front at this time ?, well it's next door in Afghanistan and once again the reason for the heightened financial support to Pakistan has to do with that country reciprocating in the GWOT next door and at home .

During the Vietnam war Subic and Clark were at the forefront of the conflict and accordingly we did get alot of aid back then the F5's for example, right now were underinvesting in our own defence and were not in any strategic frontlines which could change with the increase in Chinese hegemonic assertiveness in the region ... .

Bottom line is the Americans do not really owe us anything we owe them more for the past hundred years or so, and due to this they probably still remember the fact that we kicked them out of Subic despite everything, so it's lol not easy to expect them to just arm us to the hilt, kapal naman ng mukha natin lol .

^^Well articulated, Arvor.

Sadly though, the anti-American propaganda in the Philippines has penetrated. It's odd, it's either people are blindly pro-American or blindly anti-American NEITHER of which are beneficial or helpful the Philippines. The anti-Americanism drives away our most important ally (whether you admit it or not). The blind pro-Americanism made us fail to see some of their faults and we also seem to "pass" the responsibility in building our economy and military to them.

Unlike what anti-Americans say, I think the Philippine benefit more with the VFA than the Americans. Ano naman daw training maiibibigay natin sa kanila except for the "Survivor"(eating exotic animals and how to catch them in the jungle) training? :lol:

The Philippines is like America's spoiled child. If we don't get what we want, we sort of throw tantrums. :lol:. We really didn't kick the Americans in 1991. What really happened was our politicians want them to pay $750 million dollars per year, they offered $250 million per year. When the senate insisted on $750 million and Pinatubo erupted, they decided to just go and leave. It was more about MONEY than nationalism, that's how I see it.

The Philippines is like America's spoiled child. If we don't get what we want, we sort of throw tantrums. :lol:. We really didn't kick the Americans in 1991. What really happened was our politicians want them to pay $750 million dollars per year, they offered $250 million per year. When the senate insisted on $750 million and Pinatubo erupted, they decided to just go and leave. It was more about MONEY than nationalism, that's how I see it.
I wasn't aware of all the details but I knew for sure it wasn't about the national security issue in mind. It was more about the nuisance of the communist lover militant groups , as well as what you said, money. The senators were trying very hard to make it a nationalism issue. The corruption in the military is just a tip of the iceberg. The present government should look into the individual senators' wealth and start investigating.

I wasn't aware of all the details but I knew for sure it wasn't about the national security issue in mind. It was more about the nuisance of the communist lover militant groups , as well as what you said, money. The senators were trying very hard to make it a nationalism issue. The corruption in the military is just a tip of the iceberg. The present government should look into the individual senators' wealth and start investigating.

It's all about money and dirty politics, not really an issue of security and national sovereignty. Yes, it's both the work of the greedy politicians and the communists groups

It might be interesting to others that by the time they successfully "kicked out" the bases, the communists groups in our country were falling apart which started when Fr. Conrado Balweg seceded from the NPA and created the CPLA.

Im not a rabid pro American either aside from our country i live in Europe and i am generally more pro the development of a unified European defence system a project which is underway, however when it comes to the Asia-Pacific region especially ASEAN which is more divided than Europe and unlike Europe has fewer ressources to counter the likes of China, i do hold a more pragmatic view because i understand that the US is the only power in the region that is able and willing to do anything about it .

Interesting, that was a long but worthwile read. wow, you tackled almost all topics in one go. :lol:
and pardon the knee-jerk patriotic response awhile ago haha, i think i was alluding to the PHL not getting the same benefits and assistance the US has extended to allies after the war like Japan and Europe, with their reconstruction and economic recovery (the Marshall Plan and stuff). Like Manila for example, it was the 2nd most devastated city after WWII and it took decades before we recovered, and even up to now the most badly hit areas of Intramuros and Binondo have not been completed restored whereas Hiroshima and Nagasaki are now bustling modern cities, thanks to American aid. In Subic and Clark, you have their toxic waste legacy. But anyway, it's just one of those love/hate things i have with the US. :lol::lol:

^^ IMO, if our government wasn't too in a hurry trying to kick them outta here, they would have time... One year is too short to pack up and clean. And I don't think Washington wants to play Manila's dirty game.

The problem with our government, to "divert" the blame, they scapegoat other countries. With their lack of attention to our military, they blame the Americans for not providing enough...while stealing from our national treasury.

Yeah, indeed it's a love/hate thing without pragmatism. In turn BOTH , anti-Americanism and blind pro-Americanism hurt the Philippines.

^^ nung panahon ni Erap natapos naman yan kaagad eh without even modernizing our military,... kayang kaya natin yan basta di lang isama yung Politika like number of voters and negosyo...

all out war lang kailangan dun, peace talks will never work... since before may peace talks na, wala naman nangyayari...

They only talk to the guns. :lol:

True, i hope his death will finally put an end to our mujahideens at home and in our borders as well. However this news says the opposite. :ohno:



They can bluff all they want but their big daddy billions ain't there no more to support their diabolican plans. There are even conflicts within their ranks and it's only a matter of time for them to break apart.

^^ With the MILF sypathizing with bin Laden, I don't think our government should have peace talks with them...and the NPA

Finally i think it is wrong to always expect the Americans to do everything for us, if we expect the Americans to build up and subsidise our economy and our military then why did we ask for independence in the first place ?, we should have then simply asked to remain a commonwealth like Puerto Rico ... .

The blind pro-Americanism made us fail to see some of their faults and we also seem to "pass" the responsibility in building our economy and military to them.

The Philippines is like America's spoiled child. If we don't get what we want, we sort of throw tantrums. :lol:.

Hmm i think i found the roots of this filipinos over-reliance on the US for military and economic help straight from the PAF website:

The Philippines' postwar dependence on the United States was ordained by the Americans themselves.

Truman Doctrine...
Bell Trade Act...
RP-US Military Bases Agreement...

Together, these three documents assured the United States a secure grip on her "former" colony in the post-war years. History would later reveal that the Philippines, prostrate after the war, was left with little choice but to accept the strings attached to the grant of "independence."

http://www.paf.mil.ph/history/history06.html

Hmm i think i found the roots of this filipinos over-reliance on the US for military and economic help straight from the PAF website:

As someone quoted, Philippine Air Force is a United States Air Force run by Filipinos. :lol:

Hmm i think i found the roots of this filipinos over-reliance on the US for military and economic help straight from the PAF website:

But, having bases doesn't mean over reliance on them... Japan and Korea still host US bases, as well as Germany but they arne't expecting Uncle Sam to provide everything for their military. The fault is mainly on our government. It was working during the Marcos era..but then...after that....we turned spoiled brat. Marcos wanted to extend the MDT up to Spratlys but the US decline, but he didn't kick them out or throw tantrums.

matanong ko nga pala ano pa lang nangyari sa mga polish choppers na inorder????

Ayun, the choppers are still being polished. They never left the hangar. Order was suspended indefinitely by Aquino, due to suspected procurement anomalies by the previous administration.

As someone quoted, Philippine Air Force is a United States Air Force run by Filipinos. :lol:

Sounds familiar. I knoh who said that. :lol:

i think i was alluding to the PHL not getting the same benefits and assistance the US has extended to allies after the war like Japan and Europe

Yeah but again this had to do with politics, after ww2 major European powers still had colonial empires but due to the devastation communist parties were starting to make inroads, the marshal plan had multiple objectives one of them is to help rebuild allies prevent communist parties from gaining power and aligning those still powerfull countries with the USSR and secondly to create a market that can purchase American goods, the Marshal plan money was basically used to buy American tractors, materials and goods etc and parts of it had to be repaid in fact the UK only finished repaying it's war debt to the US only a few years ago .

So the Europeans did not really get "free money" and aid there were alot of self centered American interests involved and on the whole the entire scheme wasn't that rosy .

I think Japan profited more from not having a military right after ww2 along with west Germany same thing, and also Japan was lucky to have been next door to Korea during the Korean war for which they made alot of money off of US military contracts to supply them with trucks and machinery etc for the war effort, Japan was also already an industrialized country just as Europe which isn't really our case after ww2 so it was easier for Japan to take advantage of preferential American treatment in terms of access to their markets, even with similar access to the US markets we simply did not have the heavy industry and manufacturing to take advantage of it .

Anyway im not here to explain all the why's lol but i guess im just saying that it's worth looking deeper into the reasons for these things, the Americans were far from being saints and even if at first glance it might seem that they favour others over us we have to look at just how favourable those deals really were and in closer inspection they weren't all that favourable all the time, there was basically always a "quid pro quo" ( this for that ) as they say ... .

----

PAF studying phaseout of ‘deadly’ training jets05/02/2011 | 02:37 PM

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is studying the possibility of removing its S-211 trainer jets from its inventory following last week’s crash of a similar type of aircraft in Bataan province, killing the jet’s two pilots.

“They are studying that, that’s why they’ve grounded all [S-211s]. The Air Force is conducting that (study) itself," said Armed Forces spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez at a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

Continued on link ( below )
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/219341/nation/paf-studying-phaseout-of-deadly-training-jets

As someone quoted, Philippine Air Force is a United States Air Force run by Filipinos. :lol:
LOL!

Yeah but again this had to do with politics, after ww2 major European powers still had colonial empires but due to the devastation communist parties were starting to make inroads, the marshal plan had multiple objectives one of them is to help rebuild allies prevent communist parties from gaining power and aligning those still powerfull countries with the USSR and secondly to create a market that can purchase American goods, the Marshal plan money was basically used to buy American tractors, materials and goods etc and parts of it had to be repaid in fact the UK only finished repaying it's war debt to the US only a few years ago .

So the Europeans did not really get "free money" and aid there were alot of self centered American interests involved and on the whole the entire scheme wasn't that rosy .

I think Japan profited more from not having a military right after ww2 along with west Germany same thing, and also Japan was lucky to have been next door to Korea during the Korean war for which they made alot of money off of US military contracts to supply them with trucks and machinery etc for the war effort, Japan was also already an industrialized country just as Europe which isn't really our case after ww2 so it was easier for Japan to take advantage of preferential American treatment in terms of access to their markets, even with similar access to the US markets we simply did not have the heavy industry and manufacturing to take advantage of it .

Anyway im not here to explain all the why's lol but i guess im just saying that it's worth looking deeper into the reasons for these things, the Americans were far from being saints and even if at first glance it might seem that they favour others over us we have to look at just how favourable those deals really were and in closer inspection they weren't all that favourable all the time, there was basically always a "quid pro quo" ( this for that ) as they say ... .

----

It's basically our government's fault for not being able to play with Washington's game :lol: Tayo rin naman gustong makipaglaro, tayo pa rin ang pikon. LOL

Pakistan is in the hot seat now hahaha Parang nakaka -gago daw sabi ni Uncle Sam :bash::bash:

Pakistan is in the hot seat now hahaha Parang nakaka -gago daw sabi ni Uncle Sam :bash::bash:

The presence of Taliban in Pakistan is making their gov't as an unreliable ally with other nations.
During the Bin Ladin house raid, they almost scramble their fighter jets to oppose the US special forces team but thankfully the Pakistani military were asked for their support when the raid was taking place.

Double agent daw kasi si Uncle Pakistan :lol:.. biruin mo, kapitbahay ng MILITARY academy ng Pakistan si bin Laden? :lol:

Pakistan, not Afghanistan was the birthplace of Al-Qaeda. Nasa Afghanistan training camps nila tapos backed pa talaga ng Taliban

^^ Hopefully the US military will get out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. Parang hopeless case na diyan, matindi ang internal affairs ng Taliban, hindi mo alam kung sino sino ang miembro nila.

^^ Ipadala nalang nila sa Pilipinas.... Joke :lol:

Well, from what I know..pull out deadline daw 2012 while this year sa Iraq....

Yea, Pakistan's renegade spy agency ISI is financing the Taliban whenever it suits their internal agenda, and then sometimes backstabs the Taliban as well and gets back to Uncle Sam's side. It is like a mini-government within a government.. it's name was also mentioned during the Mumbai terror bombings a few years back. The Taliban boldly claims "careful planning" in their 3 month prep for the assasination of Benazir Bhutto but in fact, all planning was done by the spy agency & handed to the Taliban on a silver platter.

They are getting money both from the US and from OBL's side. Now with a friend like that, who needs enemies? The bigger danger though, is for a nuclear armed Pakistan to fall entirely into the hands of the crazy Taliban-Pakistan chapter...

^^ monkey business. aba...pude tayong magmonkey business between china and US...

Kidding. I'm pretty sure, compared to the US, China will eat us up. Double agenting is not even an opinion in that situation... :lol:

Parang China...backstabbing! LOL :lol:

^^ We are doing some "monkey business" with the US and China right now, kaso madalas, tayo ang saging. :lol:

^^ Sila ang umuunggoy sa atin! Kung sabagay, tayo ay isang masarap na lakatan! Yung dalawang yan, napapaligiran ng mga cavendish :lol:

I remember the map shown here before.
Do you think the following arguments make sense?

1. Even Sabah, chunks of Mindanao, and Central and Southern Palawan were depicted in the Mallat map, which during that time were NOT part of Spanish Philippine territory.
2. The transfer of the islands from Spain to the US via the Treaty of Paris did not include a reference to the Spratlys.
3. The Treaty of Paris even had to be redrawn because it left out Tawi-Tawi and several key islands, but again, the redrawn Treaty still does not include the Spratlys. (Ergo, the Spaniards NEVER claimed sovereignty over Spratlys)
4. There were no clear evidence of prehistoric Philippine incursions or authority over the islands, meanwhile Chinese maps and historical documents attest to the fact that still, China AND Vietnam are the first to these islands.

^^ thanks for bringing this topic back up, as until now im still searching for clues on Spanish sovereignty on Kalayaan Islands. While the map i posted showed the Spanish were at least aware of their existence, giving them the name Bajos de Paragua (or Paragua Vada in the Murillo map), it's still not clear whether they indeed annexed it as part of Palawan after that treaty with the Sulu Sultanate in 1749 that transferred control of these remaining territories to Spain. But from my understanding, the Spanish largely ignored these territories after winning them from Sulu so the occupation only occured in pockets, mostly in Puerto Princesa and Balabac. It was not until 1886 that a "Plano de la isla de Paragua. [Filipinas] : proyecto de ocupación" was drawn that would have asserted and fortified our sovereignty over the whole Palawan, however by then it was already too late and we've had a change in colonial regime.

As for Tawi-Tawi and other parts of Moro Mindanao, these were not part of the Spanish controlled territories that were ceded to US in the Treaty of Paris. it was only after the US successfully conquered them that they became part of PHL so the limits had to be redrawn. There were also territories won by the US over British North Borneo a few years later (the Turtle Islands and Mangsee Island) and so another treaty was drawn, this time with the UK. :)

I remember the map shown here before.
Do you think the following arguments make sense?

1. Even Sabah, chunks of Mindanao, and Central and Southern Palawan were depicted in the Mallat map, which during that time were NOT part of Spanish Philippine territory.
2. The transfer of the islands from Spain to the US via the Treaty of Paris did not include a reference to the Spratlys.
3. The Treaty of Paris even had to be redrawn because it left out Tawi-Tawi and several key islands, but again, the redrawn Treaty still does not include the Spratlys. (Ergo, the Spaniards NEVER claimed sovereignty over Spratlys)
4. There were no clear evidence of prehistoric Philippine incursions or authority over the islands, meanwhile Chinese maps and historical documents attest to the fact that still, China AND Vietnam are the first to these islands.This is in reference to what argument?

^^ on his first point re Sabah, regardless where Sabah was located on whose map, it is a fact that the ownership of Sabah and Tawi-Tawi belongs to the Sultan of Sulu. And in the early to mid 20th century the old Sultan gave permission and authority to the Philippine government to pursue his real estate claims against the other party. This was discussed in detail in the old Sabah thread, wherever that thread went... :D

This is in reference to what argument?

this is from an argument i raised like 2 weeks ago with regards to our historical claim to Kalayaan wherein i posted those antique maps and article i read to prove that these islands historically belonged to Spanish Philippines since way back. :)
you can read those old discussions here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=76342835&highlight=paragua+vada#post76342835

^^Ah, ok. Interesting.

Although I think we could still have a strong claim even if the Chinese and the Vietnamese have their old maps. Maps aren't really necessary evidence of sovereign claim in a territory as well as historical discovery. We (or the US bec we were then a colony) lost the Miangas Island to Indonesia (or the Netherlands) because we used the same arguments then in the ICJ.

Yea, Pakistan's renegade spy agency ISI is financing the Taliban whenever it suits their internal agenda, and then sometimes backstabs the Taliban as well and gets back to Uncle Sam's side. It is like a mini-government within a government.. it's name was also mentioned during the Mumbai terror bombings a few years back. The Taliban boldly claims "careful planning" in their 3 month prep for the assasination of Benazir Bhutto but in fact, all planning was done by the spy agency & handed to the Taliban on a silver platter.

They are getting money both from the US and from OBL's side. Now with a friend like that, who needs enemies? The bigger danger though, is for a nuclear armed Pakistan to fall entirely into the hands of the crazy Taliban-Pakistan chapter...

the untouchable ISI. routinely ranked as one of the top 5 spy agencies in the world has adopted, together with the pakistani government, an official line that they didn't know bin laden was literally hiding in plain sight. now, given the conspicuous build and cost of the building where osama lived in a rather comfortable exile, that assertion will fall on deaf ears of the US foreign and security officials. i wonder how long would this marriage of convience last? the unilateral action undertaken by the US in liquidating osama clearly demonstrates the ambivalence the CIA and the ISI feels towards each other.

^^Ah, ok. Interesting.

Although I think we could still have a strong claim even if the Chinese and the Vietnamese have their old maps. Maps aren't really necessary evidence of sovereign claim in a territory as well as historical discovery. We (or the US bec we were then a colony) lost the Miangas Island to Indonesia (or the Netherlands) because we used the same arguments then in the ICJ.

Hmm.. you're right. that totally escaped me. it must have been the day i got sick when this lesson was given hehehe! Thanks for your input. :okay:

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

Conclusion
Under the Palmas decision, three important rules for resolving island territorial disputes were decided:
Firstly, title based on contiguity has no standing in international law.
Secondly, title by discovery is only an inchoate title.
Finally, if another sovereign begins to exercise continuous and actual sovereignty, (and the arbitrator required that the claim had to be open and public and with good title), and the discoverer does not contest this claim, the claim by the sovereign that exercises authority is greater than a title based on mere discovery.

^^ on his first point re Sabah, regardless where Sabah was located on whose map, it is a fact that the ownership of Sabah and Tawi-Tawi belongs to the Sultan of Sulu. And in the early to mid 20th century the old Sultan gave permission and authority to the Philippine government to pursue his real estate claims against the other party. This was discussed in detail in the old Sabah thread, wherever that thread went... :D


yes but we(people here) are attempting to use these old maps to further strengthen our claim over Spratly.
so if the map shows territories not under the jurisdiction of the Philippine colonial government, then we can not use the map to prove that Filipinas had the Spratly islands within her territorial jurisdiction unless of course there are documents in our archives/foreign archives that will say that Filipinas administered these islands or at least claimed it as part of her territory

Using the appearance of the so-called Los Bajos de Paragua in the map to fortify our claims may be easily countered by the mere fact that territories unclaimed by the Conquistadores(i.e. Sabah, parts of Negara Moro) were also present in the map.

and of course if it were already part of the PHL, why would Coloma still "claim" it?

btw, I'm still looking for the maps of china and vietnam and so-called documents(accdg to the chinese who gave such arguments.. if the arguments were copied or personal arguments, idk).

yes but we(people here) are attempting to use these old maps to further strengthen our claim over Spratly.
so if the map shows territories not under the jurisdiction of the Philippine colonial government, then we can not use the map to prove that Filipinas had the Spratly islands within her territorial jurisdiction unless of course there are documents in our archives/foreign archives that will say that Filipinas administered these islands or at least claimed it as part of her territory

Using the appearance of the so-called Los Bajos de Paragua in the map to fortify our claims may be easily countered by the mere fact that territories unclaimed by the Conquistadores(i.e. Sabah, parts of Negara Moro) were also present in the map.

and of course if it were already part of the PHL, why would Coloma still "claim" it?

btw, I'm still looking for the maps of china and vietnam and so-called documents(accdg to the chinese who gave such arguments.. if the arguments were copied or personal arguments, idk).As I've said, maps aren't really necessary in making a claim. Their only function is to serve as a guide to claimant nations.

Actually, I am also intrigued as to how the "old" Chinese and Vietnamese maps look like.

^^ Hopefully the US military will get out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. Parang hopeless case na diyan, matindi ang internal affairs ng Taliban, hindi mo alam kung sino sino ang miembro nila.

yan ang mahirap sa situasyon sa afghanistan. terrorissm, naging way of life ng marami sa kanila. many easily just slip in and out sa pagiging ordinaryong mamayan at terrorist as the situation requires.

$2-Billion annual US aid to Pakistan...with all the clamor to end this, the Philippines is a viable alternative recipient of that money. What do you think?

As I've said, maps aren't really necessary in making a claim. Their only function is to serve as a guide to claimant nations.

Actually, I am also intrigued as to how the "old" Chinese and Vietnamese maps look like.

maps are used to boost historical claims. china and vietnam use this in defense of their claims.

although you may be right when you say that maps are not that necessary, it will still be helpful and beneficial for us.

the Philippines has the advantage of geography(closest) and international law(UNCLOS)
whereas china and vietnam have their "history" and "discovery"(does Zheng He ring a bell :nuts: )
^if we could take the spot of having historical sovereignty over the islands( colonial era Filipinos occupying the islands, not merely fishing around it; Filipinas having administration over the islands, and not just having ships passing through it as part of the trade route) then we leave china and vietnam toothless in their claims(well not exactly, I'm sure china will use intimidation again :lol: )

$2-Billion annual US aid to Pakistan...with all the clamor to end this, the Philippines is a viable alternative recipient of that money. What do you think?

admittedly, the philippines not the frontline of this US global war against terrorism. therefore, the US will always pour money to where the source of al queda and taliban are--afghanistan--with a formidable presence in pakistan. the country is where the 9/11 attacks was planned, funded, and from there, executed with near ruthless perfection on american soil. pakistan and afghanistan are the top two enclaves of the al queda global network. so, despite america's deep mistrust for the way pakistan handles the taliban and al queda issues, the greater strategic interests, in the eyes of the US foreign and security policy, still lie in giving support to that nuclear armed, unstable country.

maps are used to boost historical claims. china and vietnam use this in defense of their claims.

although you may be right when you say that maps are not that necessary, it will still be helpful and beneficial for us.

the Philippines has the advantage of geography(closest) and international law(UNCLOS)
whereas china and vietnam have their "history" and "discovery"(does Zheng He ring a bell :nuts: )
^if we could take the spot of having historical sovereignty over the islands( colonial era Filipinos occupying the islands, not merely fishing around it; Filipinas having administration over the islands, and not just having ships passing through it as part of the trade route) then we leave china and vietnam toothless in their claims(well not exactly, I'm sure china will use intimidation again :lol: )Contiguity, right by discovery and history were already used by the Philippines before as an argument in the ICJ. And we lost an island because of that.

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

^^ sana magkaroon tayo nito,...

Mistral Missile System,...

0sq0ZTbiBaA

UdbV5J20mpw
i wish we have this drone attack weapon. it's a remote controlled, unmanned (hence, casualty free) attack aircraft. the plane can just hover unseen if the target is unclear and wait until it gets a visual. a spy and attack aircraft at the same time. ideal for mountainous terrains. the cost is prohibitive though! the price tag is $40M per aircraft.

Any way..I've heard that the Gov. of Vietnam were already purchased 6 submarines from Russia... hmmmp... Philippines is really far behind from our Neighboring Countries..:(

^^ Does Vietnam even have the money to maintain those subs?

With China in the Security Council of the UN, honestly, I feel that other claimants, however valid, would have a small chances of winning. All China has to do is pump in money. Sounds pessimistic but that's the game of the nuclear club of the UN!

Though, I think the better argument is really the UNCLOS over "historical claims". Paano kapag doctor pala yung documents ng Chinese? One reason as to why we should take whatever China says with a grain of salt is their version of the Opium war. They say that they marched and defeated the British. When in fact, the Chinese were defeated and forced to British terms, hence Hong Kong Shanghai under the British. Now with that very revisionists part of their history, why would we not take their Spratly's claims with a grain of salt? Actually, I even am suspicious. Maybe, their claims over Paracels are valid, but Spratlys? No one lives there... :lol:

I do really hope that the US ends its aid to Pakistan. It is not worth it. They are double agents. I hate my tax money wasted for those crooks yet they are having budget cuts here in education! If only they will use that money to fund the schools!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_En-sxfOkXP8/TJN784yvU1I/AAAAAAAAG7M/6VA8aIVkp74/s400/S211_Scramble.jpg
-- an S-211 trainer aircraft of the Philippine Air Force.


Air Force eyes phase out of S-211 trainer jets
abs-cbnNEWS.com (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/02/11/air-force-eyes-phase-out-s-211-trainer-jets)
Posted at 05/02/2011 2:43 PM | Updated as of 05/02/2011 2:43 PM


MANILA, Philippines - The military is studying the possible phase out of S-211 trainer jets in its inventory following last Thursday’s crash of a similar type of aircraft in Bataan during a training flight, leading to the death of the two pilots.

“They are studying that, that’s why they’ve grounded all (S-211s)…The Air Force is conducting that (study) itself,” AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez told reporters.

The Air Force leadership grounded 2 remaining S-211 trainer planes that are operational, pending a thorough investigation on last week’s incident at the waters of Bagac town last Thursday afternoon.

It was the second crash involving S-211 planes in less than a year.

Officials said the S-211 was on a proficiency training flight when it crashed, resulting in the death of the two pilots, Maj. Ephraim Soyum and Capt. Raymond de Leon. Soyum is the valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1997.

Rodriguez said the Air Force would be making recommendations to the AFP Weapons Modernization Board what type of aircraft should be procured under their modernization program in the event the S-211s will be phased out.

“They are studying that (phase out of the S-211s), what are the risks. If they thing that the risk is high, then we have to think of something,” he said.

P-Noy restores P150 daily combat pay for soldiers (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=682620&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated May 05, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)


MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has restored the P150 daily “combat incentive pay” for soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), on top of their P500 monthly “combat pay,” both retroactive to Jan. 1 this year.

Aquino signed Executive Order 38 on April 28 setting the amount of combat pay that would be drawn from the personal services savings of the AFP for the years 2010 and 2011, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday.

In December 2010, during the AFP’s 75th anniversary, the President announced that he has (more than) doubled the P240 monthly combat pay for soldiers in the field by adding P260.

This was initially pursuant to EO 15 that he previously issued, but with EO 38 now, it consolidates all presidential directives relating to combat duty pay and incentive pay of AFP officers and enlisted personnel, superseding EOs 1017, 15 and 658.

The P150 daily combat pay had been removed from the previous EO for lack of funds.

This was why EO 38 was issued to clarify the various executive issuances related to compensation of men in uniform, Ochoa explained.

“President Aquino approved EO 38 to put in effect the intention of his administration to improve the conveyed allotment of benefits and entitlements to the members of the AFP, especially those engaged in combat operations and recognizing the vital role they play in nation building,” Ochoa said.

In a statement, Ochoa also explained the directive was issued to “consolidate, clarify and integrate all executive issuances” in order to “realize the objective of providing maximum benefits allowable for qualified members of the AFP.”

The military welcomed the executive order increasing the combat duty and incentive pay of soldiers.

“This (executive order) is a big morale booster especially for those in the field and engaged in actual combat,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said.

Burgos said the order is the fulfillment of the President’s promise to uplift the welfare of military personnel.

“We thank the President for the increase. This would mean a lot to the Armed Forces,” Burgos said.

Under EO 38, officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP performing combat duties/activities are entitled to receive a combat duty pay of P500 per month.

An additional combat incentive pay of P150 per day will be given to AFP members who are actually in the front line, engaged in combat operation against armed rebel groups.

The EO, however, stipulates the total additional combat incentive pay would not exceed P1,500 per Operations Order (OPORD) or Fragmentary Order (FRAG-O).

The directive states the combat operation must be for a specific mission duly covered by an OPORD or FRAG-O and that the personnel involved in combat must be in the published task organization of the combat operation.

“This combat incentive pay shall be supplementary to the P500 per month combat duty pay that AFP members assigned in the field units are entitled to receive,” Ochoa said. – With Alexis Romero

500 a day, and assholes like ligot and Garcia get to live like billionaires.

yes but we(people here) are attempting to use these old maps to further strengthen our claim over Spratly.
so if the map shows territories not under the jurisdiction of the Philippine colonial government, then we can not use the map to prove that Filipinas had the Spratly islands within her territorial jurisdiction unless of course there are documents in our archives/foreign archives that will say that Filipinas administered these islands or at least claimed it as part of her territory

Using the appearance of the so-called Los Bajos de Paragua in the map to fortify our claims may be easily countered by the mere fact that territories unclaimed by the Conquistadores(i.e. Sabah, parts of Negara Moro) were also present in the map.

and of course if it were already part of the PHL, why would Coloma still "claim" it?

btw, I'm still looking for the maps of china and vietnam and so-called documents(accdg to the chinese who gave such arguments.. if the arguments were copied or personal arguments, idk). Since we have very little material to work on seemingly, and we seem to be “outmapped” (for lack of better term) or whilst we endeavour to search for more historical evidence; allow me the liberty of citing this example.

In the case of Singapore versus Malaysia on the island of Pedra Branca (I am only stating this offhand as far as I can remember due to time constraints), the ICJ did in fact rule in favour of Singapore in 2008. Despite the fact that the Sultan of Johore (I remember) had claimed historical rights for Malaysia. The main point was, Malaysia did not administer nor contest the island being under Singapore administration until recently. Remember the old adage, Possession is 9/10 of the Law…

Going back to our case, however difficult it may be for our side given the kind of logistics we suffer from, it is imperative that the Philippines MUST maintain a physical presence in the Spratleys.

Contiguity, right by discovery and history were already used by the Philippines before as an argument in the ICJ. And we lost an island because of that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_Palmas_CaseAmazing, I am using wiki versus wiki; I mean wiki is negating itself. The arbiter in the Palmas case was grossly misinformed. There was in fact a great Naval battle between the dutch and the spanish. How can this be forgotten by the Philippine side? Why, even the celebration itself of Our Lady of la Naval had been long sidetracked already according to what I read elsewhere.
The arbitrator pointed out that if Spain had actually exercised authority, than there would have been conflicts between the two countries but none are provided in the evidence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_La_Naval_de_Manila
The Battles of La Naval de Manila were a series of five decisive naval encounters that were fought in the waters of the Philippines in 1646, between the forces of Spain and the Dutch Republic, during the Eighty Years’ War. The Spanish forces (which included a large contingents of native Filipino volunteers) consisted only two (and later, three) Manila galleons (and later a galley and four brigantines), against a vastly superior Dutch armada of eighteen warships (divided into three separate squadrons). Heavy damage was inflicted upon the Dutch squadrons by the Spanish-Filipino forces, forcing the Dutch to abandon their invasion of the Philippines.

Amazing, I am using wiki versus wiki; I mean wiki is negating itself. The arbiter in the Palmas case was grossly misinformed. There was in fact a great Naval battle between the dutch and the spanish. How can this be forgotten by the Philippine side? Why, even the celebration itself of Our Lady of la Naval had been long sidetracked already according to what I read elsewhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_La_Naval_de_ManilaNo. The ICJ only decided upon the case of of Palmas (Miangas) Island itself. This island is a very small island several kilometers south of Saranggani Province. At that time, the US was arguing in our side since we are their colony then and the same thing with Indonesia (formerly Dutch East Indies).

The Battle of La Naval was more of a Spanish defense against the invading Dutch armada. The plan of the Dutch then was to invade and occupy the whole Philippines (territories actually/effectively occupied by Spain). As we all know, the Philippines in 1646 was not wholly occupied by Spain. Some parts in Mindanao was still under the Sulu Sultanate and other sultanates. And Palmas Island then was also not included in our territory.

The Battle and the case of Palmas are two unrelated issues. At the time of the battle, Palmas may have been discovered by the Spanish, but they were not occupied nor subjected under the administrative and judicial organization of the colony. This means that mere discovery is not tantamount to sovereign ownership. And it makes sense at that time since Spain was busy fighting off rebels in the north, Sangley rebels in Manila, Moro piracy in the south and Dutch raids. Claiming ownership and occupying that island is a liability to the Spanish.

The Spanish may have been the first to discover the islands but it was the Dutch who were able to make treaties and agreements with the native leaders and effectively occupied the territory by propagating "Protestantism and the denial of other nationals on the island" (wikipedia). Take note that this is only regarding Palmas Island and not the territories actually occupied by Spain at that time.

The arbitrator pointed out that if Spain had actually exercised authority, than there would have been conflicts between the two countries but none are provided in the evidence.The conflict that was stated here was regarding the island itself. What the ICJ meant was that if Spain actually held sovereign power and had effective occupation on Palmas Island, then there should have been a conflict in Palmas Island when the Dutch arrived (the same thing that happened when Spain occupied Formosa and was eventually expelled by the Dutch after a battle). But no conflict ensued, nor was there opposition from the Spanish.

The new US military helo?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05ZHd4zcWzeTs/610x.jpg

Part of a damaged helicopter is seen lying near the compound after U.S. Navy SEAL commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad,

:D
No. The ICJ only decided upon the case of of Palmas (Miangas) Island itself. This island is a very small island several kilometers south of Saranggani Province. At that time, the US was arguing in our side since we are their colony then and the same thing with Indonesia (formerly Dutch East Indies).

The Battle of La Naval was more of a Spanish defense against the invading Dutch armada. The plan of the Dutch then was to invade and occupy the whole Philippines (territories actually/effectively occupied by Spain). As we all know, the Philippines in 1646 was not wholly occupied by Spain. Some parts in Mindanao was still under the Sulu Sultanate and other sultanates. And Palmas Island then was also not included in our territory.

The Battle and the case of Palmas are two unrelated issues. At the time of the battle, Palmas may have been discovered by the Spanish, but they were not occupied nor subjected under the administrative and judicial organization of the colony. This means that mere discovery is not tantamount to sovereign ownership. And it makes sense at that time since Spain was busy fighting off rebels in the north, Sangley rebels in Manila, Moro piracy in the south and Dutch raids. Claiming ownership and occupying that island is a liability to the Spanish.

The Spanish may have been the first to discover the islands but it was the Dutch who were able to make treaties and agreements with the native leaders and effectively occupied the territory by propagating "Protestantism and the denial of other nationals on the island" (wikipedia). Take note that this is only regarding Palmas Island and not the territories actually occupied by Spain at that time.

The conflict that was stated here was regarding the island itself. What the ICJ meant was that if Spain actually held sovereign power and had effective occupation on Palmas Island, then there should have been a conflict in Palmas Island when the Dutch arrived (the same thing that happened when Spain occupied Formosa and was eventually expelled by the Dutch after a battle). But no conflict ensued, nor was there opposition from the Spanish.


Not quite. The Battle of La Naval was in the defense of the entire Philippines as claimed by the Spanish crown, not merely parts of it. They took it to mean the territories of Las Indias Orientales Españolas. On its map (also in Wiki btw)

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

To which Palmas was clearly a part of.

Contiguity etc. was thrown by the Swiss arbiter Huber out of the window and this is challenged by this paper by the Philippine Law Journal and UP academics.

I read somewhere that the union between Spain and Portugal as one political unit made ownership of the entire southeast asian region moot at the time since Portugal was the original owner of that part of the world. (Furthermore, on another page at wiki Spanish missionaries and settlers, did in fact, penetrate as far as Manado already on the island of Sulawesi, way down south beyond Palmas. There is no conclusive data about the degree of Protestantism within Palmas except for what Huber swallowed hook, line and sinker or what wiki claims.)

It’s quite an interesting read and I will revisit this document as well when I am not pressed for time.

http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2077/PLJ%20volume%2077%20number%204%20-01-%20Prof.%20H.%20Harry%20L.%20Roque,%20Jr%20-%20Palmas%20Arbitration%20Revisited.pdf
The Americans argues that based on historical data, the Dutch always referred to Palmas as “Miangis”, “Mayages”, “Meangis” and “Miangas”. All these names have also been used to refer to the Nenusa islands, a group admittedly belonging to the Netherlands. It was possible therefore that the island being claimed by the Netherlands was not the Palmas Island but one of the Nenusa Islands which admittedly belong to them. Jessup maintained that this is an issue of fact which should have been decided with the assistance of experts.

the American’s argument: there being a paucity of evidence of actual Spanish exercise of authority on Palmas island, it is proper to take into account the fact that this island is one part of the geographical unit known as the Philippine archipelago. Jessup insisted that Spain’s title over the archipelago is clear and in the absence of contrary evidence, it must be assumed that her occupation and control of Mindanao and other islands included Palmas island. This is the theory of constructive possession, i.e., since Spain possesses the whole, constructively, it possesses all the parts.

Huber obviously not only failes to appreciate the American proposition, he ignored even the common definition of “archipelago” as a group of islands and waters forming a geographical whole. Huber ruled that Palmas was beyond the territorial waters of either the Philippines or Indoneisa. He blatantly ignored the argument of the Americans that the island forms part of the Philippine archipelago.

Huber rejected the contiguity theory based solely on the alleged lack of positive rule that such a theory is recognized in international law.

In the next paragraphs of the paper, they took examples

Venezuela – in the British Guiana Boundary Arbitration, raised the proposition that occupation to be effective need not extend to every nook and corner of the territory.

American and Canadian constructive occupation of parts of its wilderness, which had the effect of possession of the entire area.

English occupation of Australia and New Zealand, which had the effect of possession over the entire continent.

Denmark – Legal status of Eastern Greenland Case, the ICJ recognized that Denmark’s possession of part of Greenland was sufficient evidence of her possession of the whole disputed area.
II. Conclusion

The Palmas arbitration is, on the basis of criticisms made by the most qualified publicists, at best defective, and at worse, erroneous. Pursuant to the principle of autonomy of parties, the arbitration is binding only on the parties thereto: the Netherlands, and the United States. In any case, the Philippines, as a non-party to the arbitration, cannot be bound by the arbitral award.

We still have hope …jejeje. :colgate:

^^ interesting, i almost forgot about La Naval.. anyway im not 100% familiar with the Palmas Island dispute yet, so keep going. :D

Aquino to raise Spratlys issue in ASEAN Summit
By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10:14:00 05/04/2011



MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III will bring up the Spratlys dispute at the upcoming 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA yesterday said Mr. Aquino will express during the May 7-8 meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Philippines’ desire for “the effective and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.”

“It is the country’s aspiration that this potential flashpoint be transformed into a zone of peace, friendship, freedom and cooperation,” the DFA said in a statement.

The Philippines is among six countries with claims, wholly or partly, on the Spratly group of islands, a reputedly oil-rich chain of tiny islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The other claimants are Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

In 2002, countries with claims on the Spratly islands signed the DOC, nonbinding guidelines on how to tackle disputes.

Mr. Aquino has repeatedly raised the topic of the South China Sea conflict in meetings with regional leaders, including those of Singapore and Indonesia.

In March, two Chinese vessels allegedly harassed a Philippine seismic research ship at Reed Bank, prompting the Philippines to send a plane and some of its coast guard ships to the area.

Last month, the Philippines lodged a formal protest at the United Nations over China’s claims to the Spratly islands and adjacent South China Sea waters, based on a map attached to a 2009 Chinese letter that delineated China’s claim.

The President’s will also push for ASEAN maritime connectivity patterned after Roll-on-Roll-off (RO-RO) linkages.

ASEAN is composed of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

“It goes without saying that the success of the RORO linkages is dependent on enhancing maritime security and maintaining the integrity of ASEAN’s sea lanes,” the DFA said.

The Philippines has strongly advocated the creation of a “nautical highway” through the RO-RO concept in addition to road connectivity to complete the “missing links” in the region.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110504-334536/Aquino-to-raise-Spratlys-issue-in-ASEAN-Summit

Navy SEALS a new subject of Alberto Korda students :rock:

ang galing naman ng mga inputs nyo mercato at le reine. i'm all eyes on your further exchanges on this. i wanna learn more!

The new US military helo?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05ZHd4zcWzeTs/610x.jpg

Part of a damaged helicopter is seen lying near the compound after U.S. Navy SEAL commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad,

must be a UAV?

^^
Maybe a part of the V-22 Osprey

^^The operation have included some modified choppers under the, "The Black Project". Earlier report right after the raid stated that the SF Navy SEALs have used modified helicopters. So it could possibly some modified blackhawks, or even a gunship from one of their 4 choppers used in the raid.

If it was a highly modified H-60 blackhawk then they doubled the blades from 4 to 8 to reduce the sound, and installed the round plate to cover the heat from the tail end rotor to lessen its radar signatures.

If it was one of the escort chopper then it could be a modified Comanche attack helicopter, or possibly a modified MH6 Little Bird.

But they also used some modified Chinook as well as earlier stated from various reports. Keep in mind there were 79 special forces and CIA operatives were used during the raid.

^^ interesting, i almost forgot about La Naval.. anyway im not 100% familiar with the Palmas Island dispute yet, so keep going. :D

ang galing naman ng mga inputs nyo mercato at le reine. i'm all eyes on your further exchanges on this. i wanna learn more!

At least matinong debaters sila :applause:

^^Earlier report right after the raid stated that the SF Navy SEALs have used modified helicopters. So it could possibly some modified blackhawks, or even a gunship from one of their 4 choppers used in the raid.

If it was a blackhawk then they doubled the blades from 4 to 8 to reduce the sound, and installed the round plate to cover the heat from the tail end rotor to lessen its radar signatures.

If it was one of the escort chopper then it could be a modified Commanche attack helicopter.

But they also used some modified Chinook as well as earlier stated from various reports. Keep in mind there were 79 special forces and CIA operatives were used during the raid.

Balita ko naman, parang "computerized" helicopter daw ginamit?

Anu va talaga :lol: Pero nakakatawa ha. Naungasan nila radar ng Pakistani Military pero di yung isang twitterer :lol:

Balita ko naman, parang "computerized" helicopter daw ginamit?

Anu va talaga :lol: Pero nakakatawa ha. Naungasan nila radar ng Pakistani Military pero di yung isang twitterer :lol:

Pusible din kasi di naman talaga nila linalabas pa ang buong detalye. Who knows nga naman baka bagong UAV ang ginamit, kaya din siguro bumagsak baka nagkamali na yung operator ng remote control... :lol:

Osama bin Laden Raid Reveals New Stealth Helicopter

By DAVE PUGLIESE WED, MAY 4 2011 COMMENTS(0) DAVID PUGLIESE’S DEFENCE WATCH

Filed under: Osama bin Laden dead, stealth helicopter


Details of a classified stealth helicopter are being discussed at Aviation Week. Bill Sweetman writes: "Radar cross-section (RCS) reduction measures include flattened and canted body sides, making landing gear and other features retractable, and adding fairings over the rotor hubs. It usually is not possible to achieve the same - you can’t make a helo as radar-stealthy as a fixed-wing airplane, but helicopters generally operate at low altitude in ground clutter. Reducing RCS also makes jamming more effective, whether from the aircraft itself or from a standoff jammer."

Here is a press release from the magazine:



New stealth helicopter, military budget implications, and ISR capabilities are focus of coverage



New York – May 4, 2011 – Aviation Week has been closely covering the raid that resulted in Osama Bin Laden’s death on Sunday night with exclusive articles and in-depth analysis on AviationWeek.com, the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and the Aerospace Daily and Defense Report.



The raid was a military effort with wide-ranging implications for the defense industry. Aviation Week experts and editors take a look at its impact on parts of the military budget, particularly ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capabilities, and a technical report on a previously undisclosed, classified stealth helicopter used during the operation.



“The exact type of helicopter is unknown but it appears to be a highly modified version of an H-60 Blackhawk,” writes Bill Sweetman, editor-in-chief of Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International (DTI). “The aircraft was damaged during the mission and abandoned. The mission team destroyed most of the airframe but its tail section landed outside the wall of the target compound and escaped demolition.”



Aviation Week regularly covers international defense issues and advanced technologies. Its defense media portfolio includes Aviation Week & Space Technology, DTI, the AviationWeek.com defense channel and ARES defense technology blog, AWIN, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, and events and management forums.



Further coverage will be available in the May 9 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology.


http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/archive/2011/05/04/osama-bin-laden-raid-reveals-new-stealth-helicopter.aspx

Osama bin Laden Raid Reveals New Stealth Helicopter

By DAVE PUGLIESE WED, MAY 4 2011 COMMENTS(0) DAVID PUGLIESE’S DEFENCE WATCH

Filed under: Osama bin Laden dead, stealth helicopter


Details of a classified stealth helicopter are being discussed at Aviation Week. Bill Sweetman writes: "Radar cross-section (RCS) reduction measures include flattened and canted body sides, making landing gear and other features retractable, and adding fairings over the rotor hubs. It usually is not possible to achieve the same - you can’t make a helo as radar-stealthy as a fixed-wing airplane, but helicopters generally operate at low altitude in ground clutter. Reducing RCS also makes jamming more effective, whether from the aircraft itself or from a standoff jammer."

Here is a press release from the magazine:



New stealth helicopter, military budget implications, and ISR capabilities are focus of coverage



New York – May 4, 2011 – Aviation Week has been closely covering the raid that resulted in Osama Bin Laden’s death on Sunday night with exclusive articles and in-depth analysis on AviationWeek.com, the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and the Aerospace Daily and Defense Report.



The raid was a military effort with wide-ranging implications for the defense industry. Aviation Week experts and editors take a look at its impact on parts of the military budget, particularly ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capabilities, and a technical report on a previously undisclosed, classified stealth helicopter used during the operation.



“The exact type of helicopter is unknown but it appears to be a highly modified version of an H-60 Blackhawk,” writes Bill Sweetman, editor-in-chief of Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International (DTI). “The aircraft was damaged during the mission and abandoned. The mission team destroyed most of the airframe but its tail section landed outside the wall of the target compound and escaped demolition.”



Aviation Week regularly covers international defense issues and advanced technologies. Its defense media portfolio includes Aviation Week & Space Technology, DTI, the AviationWeek.com defense channel and ARES defense technology blog, AWIN, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, and events and management forums.



Further coverage will be available in the May 9 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology.


http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/archive/2011/05/04/osama-bin-laden-raid-reveals-new-stealth-helicopter.aspx

Sablay yung "detonation"? :lol:

Sablay yung "detonation"? :lol:

Sobrang lakas kamo... Pagsabog eh tumalsik ba naman palabas ng bakod eh hahahaha eh lahat ng operatives nasa loob na ng compound siguro... :lol:

ang galing naman ng mga inputs nyo mercato at le reine. i'm all eyes on your further exchanges on this. i wanna learn more!At least matinong debaters sila :applause:Disclaimer. Of course not. This is not a debate in the traditional sense of the word, SSC Style. For the reason that we are both on the same side, the Philippine side. Le Reine is merely playing Devil’s advocate should any (future) interested Philippine party pursue our Real Estate claims on the Palmas front, as well as the Sabah and Spratleys if I may. The role of a Devil’s advocate is to ensure that all bases are covered and the points presented are sound and do not have loopholes.

(:no: Much as I admit missing the language debates of yesteryears. Now those were adorable and lovely debates).

On the issue of Language used in Palmas circa 1906.
In Maj. Gen Wood’s affidavit dated July 27, 1925, he said that when he visited the island in 1906, a native who spoke some Spanish informed him of the “visits of the Netherlands subjects to the island.” Gen. Wood informed the State Department of this fact and the latter made inquiries with the Dutch government.It was evident from certain records, however, that the Americans were generally hesitant to pursue the claim due to the following reasons: one, the island was small and populated by 689 diseased and destitute inhabitants of low mentality who speak a Malay-Spanish dialect;” and two, the legal recourse to the claim, including recourse to arbitration, was not justified due to the “trifling value of the island.”Which debunks claims from the Dutch side that there was no Spanish presence there. Where and how did the locals learn to speak some Spanish? If they only spoke Dutch, the disinterested Maj. General would have reported hiring a Dutch interpreter, but he didn’t.

The second paragraph points to the fallacy of American reasoning at that time. They were not really zealous enough because they spoke of the “trifling value” of the island and the words “diseased”, “destitute”, “low mentality” and “who speak a Malay-Spanish dialect” (Chavacanos de Palmas, anyone?). Even in the early 20th century, los Gringos already looked down on those who sound like coming from South of the Border … :D

In this day and age, one cannot be dismissive of any island or islet as mere trifling in value. Nobody took a second look at the Spratleys till everyone decided the Spratleys were important. A Lesson to be learnt. :colgate:

^^ interesting, i almost forgot about La Naval.. anyway im not 100% familiar with the Palmas Island dispute yet, so keep going. :D :D :D :D I wonder which apellido you must be carrying or related to? Que interesante. Hmmmmmmmmmm ... :?
It is the traditional feast day that Manila Society has forgotten…
It used to be that Manila’s grandest ladies and gentlemen — from the Tuason, Legarda, Prieto, Valdes, Roxas, de Ayala, Zobel, Zaragoza, Araneta, Ortigas, Vargas, Madrigal, Cojuangco, and other affluent families — spearheaded the preparations for the annual event in honor of “Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario” Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary…
Ah, bahala na may magalit na OT, basta konting tribute lang naman to the Blessed Virgin :nocrook:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=62123777&postcount=323


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=62123959&postcount=324

But this isn’t OT, I promise. This is a romanticized version of the Battle of La Naval between the Spanish and Dutch warships and appropriate in the Defense Thread. :D
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=62125011&postcount=325

full credits to LaNavaldeManila
D_uN_gP_1uo&feature=related

PHIL MARINES LT COL RODYER DE LA PENA
aPOMPJN9heM

04-30-2011 BAPTISM OF FIRE MARINE BASE TERNATE CAVITE VADN ALEX PAMA
4LnlaP66aZY

LRB operatives

Photo courtesy of ranger0024 of timawa:
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae279/stranger0024/100_3142.jpg

Photo courtesy of 4threich of timawa:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09zrezie1i39i/610x.jpg


Photo courtesy of spartacus of timawa:
http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg398/egowl/pma%20visit/IMG_0126.jpg

^^^^

Gusto ko pa rin makita na mayroon na tayong bagong armas--o sya kahit pinaglumaan (second hand) basta naka-kondisyon at tatagal pa.

Yng hamilton ships ok na yun.

pero mas maganda kung may mas bago.

Missile system kailangan.

Trainer jet at light attack aircraft ang kailangan at ipakilo na ang S-211. :lol:

Nakapatay na naman kasi. Kakabili palang kasi nun palpak na agad. kahit Singapore nung nagtry na i-reinforced or improve ang S-211, wala rin.

Have you kids seen these photos before? Yes, those were the days of glory.



From the Album: "Personal Photos of the Greats of the Philippine Fighter Force" (5th Fighter Wing, Basa Airbase)

Many thanks to Fernando Boy 06B for sharing these photos as seen from timawa:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/222320_1989419496104_1261858335_32388802_7917092_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/226962_1989412135920_1261858335_32388768_5942314_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/226618_1989409855863_1261858335_32388758_7531470_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/226506_1989409975866_1261858335_32388759_3502758_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/215815_1989410095869_1261858335_32388760_1339949_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/222880_1989410415877_1261858335_32388762_7497687_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/222997_1989410815887_1261858335_32388764_287230_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/224677_1989411415902_1261858335_32388766_6996531_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/215597_1989411775911_1261858335_32388767_707806_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/223566_1989412255923_1261858335_32388769_6152877_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/217131_1989412415927_1261858335_32388770_281201_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/227004_1989412895939_1261858335_32388771_372425_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/217745_1989413055943_1261858335_32388772_501779_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/225980_1989413255948_1261858335_32388773_921017_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/224366_1989413655958_1261858335_32388774_7105141_n.jpg

^^Continuation:
http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=27276.0
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/218070_1989413775961_1261858335_32388775_1734523_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/223447_1989415576006_1261858335_32388780_3254638_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/225082_1989418856088_1261858335_32388797_7484911_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/224959_1989416896039_1261858335_32388781_8112155_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/230848_1989417176046_1261858335_32388782_4812606_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/218080_1989417496054_1261858335_32388785_3867434_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/229575_1989418016067_1261858335_32388790_607909_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/228474_1989473017442_1261858335_32388838_2109739_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/215636_1989418176071_1261858335_32388791_5212129_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/230584_1989473257448_1261858335_32388839_6712506_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/229089_1989475137495_1261858335_32388847_454225_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/215759_1989475577506_1261858335_32388850_6514800_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/224969_1989475497504_1261858335_32388849_4261305_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/225529_1989475657508_1261858335_32388851_4583217_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/222895_1989418576081_1261858335_32388794_584143_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/217242_1989418696084_1261858335_32388795_2832459_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/229789_1989419056093_1261858335_32388798_4276823_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/221634_1989419176096_1261858335_32388799_6782187_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/229374_1989419296099_1261858335_32388800_479977_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/225489_1989473697459_1261858335_32388841_4962596_n.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/225474_1989473377451_1261858335_32388840_3959091_n-1.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/johnvik/5th%20Fighter%20Wing/222320_1989419496104_1261858335_32388802_7917092_n.jpg

Thank you for the owner! :cheers:

^^^^^^

We can always bring back these glory days.


Its a matter of patience, good financial management and political will (kick out all AFP corrupt officials like Garcia, Ligot and all those involved in corruption in the military).

^^^^^^

We can always bring back these glory days.


Its a matter of patience, good financial management and political will (kick out all AFP corrupt officials like Garcia, Ligot and all those Chief of Staff that tolerated corruption in the military.

Yes i hope will do.

Those photos, even if were not mine, made me feel so proud, and surely will make every filipinos proud. One day, we will regain this long lost status.

Imagine if we're able to maintain (and further developed and researched) those Crusaders and F-5s. Meron na siguro tayong sariling gawang MRFs and other aircraft. After Macoy, incompetent na mga sumunod sa kanya. oh well..

btw, Adroth posted some pics of PN's "new" ship, the Hamilton. Glimpse of Hamilton (http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=4a0484bfcf4985110655e2bf643fa71b&topic=25937.885)

Teka me news pa ba kayo tungkol sa MSSR(Marine Scout Sniper Rifle)? Are they still developing it?

Another development which should alarm the Spratly's Islands claimants. This is a refurbished Russian Aircraft carrier which they will use to acquire technology in building their own versions. The article says China has waited 70 years for this and this is only a prelude for China's ambition to build more Aircraft carriers..:ohno:

China Nearing Completion of Aircraft Carrier Reconstruction

http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2011/04/07/china-reconstruction-of-aircraft-carrier-is-nearing-completion/

^^
Maybe a part of the V-22 Osprey

must be a UAV?

The new US military helo?



Probably a highly modified MH-60.

Below is an artist concept of the mysterious helicopter which was destroyed during the raid (which in my opinion very plausible).

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7627/mhx4new.jpg

Source: David Cenciotti's Weblog (http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/stealth-black-hawk-down-revised-sketch/)

http://www.bergbook.com/images/16978-01.jpg

^any comments?
this map delineates the extent of each country's possessions back in the olden days.

the map is poorly drawn

Ugly map. :lol:

But then, where the heck is the Spratlys? Looks like they included the Spratlys but not Sabah

^^They indeed included the spratlys but not sabah. Oh crap.... :lol:

btw, Adroth posted some pics of PN's "new" ship, the Hamilton. Glimpse of Hamilton (http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=4a0484bfcf4985110655e2bf643fa71b&topic=25937.885)

Teka me news pa ba kayo tungkol sa MSSR(Marine Scout Sniper Rifle)? Are they still developing it?

Regarding the MSSR, AFAIK yes.

And now indeed, the ship the PN is getting has no CIWS, with some other sensors and radars are missing, probably atleast a radar for the CIWS.

Let's just hope that the PN will arm this ship with another version of CIWS from other foreign defense contractors, with all other weapon system and ASW, before it arrives at philippine waters.

Probably a highly modified MH-60.

Below is an artist concept of the mysterious helicopter which was destroyed during the raid (which in my opinion very plausible).

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7627/mhx4new.jpg

Source: David Cenciotti's Weblog (http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/stealth-black-hawk-down-revised-sketch/)


So it was a modified MH-60 with a retractable gears.

so there will be a 4th gen MSSR? cool!

I'm not too worried about it not having a CIWS. The government could purchase one(if they want to) in the near future and/or pwede naman nilang salpakan ng iba pang weaponry (paging MAPUA team). What worries me is the removal of some (if not, all) of the sensors and radars. Bago pa makapagreact, dedo na.

Anyway, if this acquisition will serve as a stepping stone for future acquisitions of modern warships (and also intended for acquiring new set of skills for the PN Personnel) then it's all good. Mahirap nga naman na sanay ka na sa luma tapos bagsakan ka ng bago, eh bago mo pa mapagana or mapatakbo yun, lunod ka na sa influx ng bagong information or sophistication ng mga equipments and weaponry.

Probably a highly modified MH-60.

Below is an artist concept of the mysterious helicopter which was destroyed during the raid (which in my opinion very plausible).

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7627/mhx4new.jpg

Source: David Cenciotti's Weblog (http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/stealth-black-hawk-down-revised-sketch/)

well, it has a slight resemblance of the RAH-66 Comanche. Baka derivation yan nun.

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot/modernplanes/helicopters-c-g/comanche.GIF

Eh bakit naman nag crashed?? Featured news to sa yahoo.news last day eh?:nuts:

Stealth Helicopter MH-X Advanced Special Operations Helicopter On 1 May 2011, the United States announced that it had launched an operation into Pakistan from Afghanistan to apprehend Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed during the operation, reported to have been conducted by members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU; commonly referred to by an older title, Seal Team Six). The Naval Special Warfare operators were reported to have been inserted and/or extracted by elements of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). During the raid, it was reported that one of the force's MH-60 helicopters was damaged and had to be destroyed in place. The remnants of the helicopter were later recovered and moved from the site by the Pakistani military. Subsequent pictures of the wreckage suggested that the helicopter might have in fact been a new type, possibly incorporating stealth technology. The U.S. Army and CIA developed what could be considered a stealthy helicopter during the Vietnam War. There, they were primarily interested in reducing the amount of noise that the helicopter generated, and they named the helicopter The Quiet One. Light, quiet and stealthy helicopters could be used for clandestine missions, quick in-and-out assignments without being noticed. A Special Forces A-Team performing an extraction could grab their target, climb a rope, and be extracted by a stealth helicopter. Other stealthy helicopter has focued on reducing detectability by radar and infra-red sensors, including the suppression of hot engine exhaust gases. In the 1980s, Hughes and other American aircraft manufacturers investigated concepts for the construction of radar-evading "Stealth" helicopters. The US designed stealthy helicopter-type aircraft. One program was the McDonnell Douglas X-wing. Stealth features of this hybrid craft included using the stalled blades, when in aeroplane mode, as radar reflectors, and using McDonnell Douglas NOTAR (no tail rotor) technology to eliminate tell tale tail rotor radar signature. The X-wing project had an unclassified counterpart, which allowed components of the 'black' X-wing to be obtained under cover. According to one report, a classified stealth helicopter was being tested at the Groom Lake Air Force base as early as 1990. The code name for the helicopter as "T.E.-K," standing for "Test and Evaluation Project K." The F-117 stealth fighter was reportedly known as "T.E.-A," and the B-2 stealth bomber, known as "T.E.-B." The 2/6/95 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology reported that the Air force had a silent NOTAR helicopter and a stealth helicopter inside Area 51. For the conventional helicopter, there are two fundamental systems that contribute to the generation of near-field and far-field noise, the main rotor and the tail rotor. Each rotor emits unique and recognizable sounds due to its highly individualized operating condition. Engine noise is typically of secondary significance. A helicopter main rotor generates primarily low frequency noise and, in certain operating regimes, high amplitude low-to-mid-frequency noise modulated at the blade passage frequency. The low frequency rotor noise is made up of basic loading noise and broadband turbulence noise, each a function of lift and rotational speed. These sources are present in any lifting rotor. Additional sources, such as Blade Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise and High Speed Impulsive (HSI) noise, become dominant in specific operating regimes, namely in descents and at high forward airspeeds, respectively. BVI noise can be the most significant contributor, because it occurs during a helicopter’s approach to the landing area. Operational noise reduction modifications involve the use of known low noise techniques and modifications to flight paths in an attempt to minimize the noise “footprint.” Current technology for noise reduction employed in new rotorcraft designs, must ensure that the cost, performance, and other impositions on the design are met in concert with reduced noise. Control of main rotor noise has traditionally been accomplished by the judicious selection of rotor blade configurations and rotational tip speed. Airfoils, blade planforms, and tip shapes are chosen which mitigate the effects of HSI noise and BVI noise. For a given design gross weight, increasing the blade chord and changing the number of rotor blades are means of reaching an acoustically desirable rotational tip speed. The blade number change also alters the frequency distribution of the sound generated. The most direct method of controlling BVI noise is by reducing or diffusing the tip vortex. Tip shapes such as the sub-wing, Ogee tip, and others have been shown to cause measurable reductions in BVI noise by modifying the vortex structure. Conventional means of noise reduction, e.g., tip speed reduction, tip shapes and airfoil tailoring, are inferior to several innovative design concepts: modulated blade spacing and x-force control when used to significantly reduce noise with minimal performance degradation and no vibration increase. Helicopter main rotors have historically been designed with equally spaced blades. This equal spacing from one blade to the next translates to a main rotor acoustic spectrum characterized by a single fundamental blade-passage frequency and its harmonics. As many as 20 or 30 harmonics are commonly present in a main rotor's acoustic spectrum, each of which is a multiple of the fundamental blade-passage frequency. In a typical spectral plot, these frequencies appear as pronounced, ordered “peaks” spread evenly across the acoustic spectrum. Since the acoustic frequencies associated with the rotating blades are directly related to the blade spacing, intuitively the use of unevenly spaced blades holds the potential of lower sound levels and less perceptibility. The acoustic effect of uneven or modulated blade spacing is to generate several blade-passage frequencies, one for each unique angle between blades. Each blade passage frequency, in turn, generates its own set of harmonics. The total acoustic energy is thereby spread over a broader range of frequencies, rather than being concentrated at one blade-passage frequency and a single set of harmonics. Main rotor designs that incorporate modulated blade spacing have reduced peak noise levels in most flight operations. X-force control alters the helicopter's force balance whereby the miss distance between main rotor blades and shed vortices can be controlled. This control provides a high potential to mitigate BVI noise radiation. A main rotor design, incorporating the modulated blade spacing concept, offers significantly reduced noise levels and the potential of a break-through in how a helicopter’s sound is perceived and judged. The advantages of the modulated blade spacing concept are many: it has minimal impact on performance and potentially reduces vibration; it reduces sound levels and improves sound quality when incorporated on tail rotors; it lessens perceptibility; and it potentially has aural detection benefits. It is believed that the lower source frequencies associated with a main rotor can be altered similarly to those of a tail rotor. One configuration studied had five blades, a radius of 19.5 feet, a thrust weighted chord of 12 inches, and a rotational tip speed of 665 feet per second. This rotor incorporated modulated blade spacing with angles between blades of 72, 68.5, 79, 65, and 76.5 degrees. If incorporated on the baseline helicopter, the rotor results in a 16 percent payload penalty for the full fuel case. The cruise airspeed would be reduced by 6.2 percent and the maximum airspeed by 17.2 percent. The reduction in peak noise levels is predicted to be 4, 8 and 4 dBA during takeoff, flyover and approach, respectively. The noise reductions up-range (15-20 seconds before overhead) are even greater: 16, 16 and 9 dBA during takeoff, flyover and approach, respectively. In new R&D acquisitions, were the Government is trying to develop a new weapon system, such as a stealth helicopter, and then enter into production but has no previous experience with the program objectives, is a good candidate for a CPFF contract type. This is to share the technical and resulting cost risk with the contractor. This allows the contractor to concentrate on the job at hand (i.e., to try and prove that the idea can be developed into a working model by solving the technical problems they are facing) versus focusing on how much money they have spent to date under the contract.

Contiguity, right by discovery and history were already used by the Philippines before as an argument in the ICJ. And we lost an island because of that.

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



http://jibraelangel2blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/palmas-island-now-renamed-miangas-one.html

However, the arbitrator noted that Spain could not legally grant what it did not hold and the Treaty of Paris could not grant to the United States Palmas if Spain had no actual title to it. The arbitrator concluded that Spain held an inchoate title when Spain “discovered” Palmas. However, for a sovereign to maintain its initial title via discovery, the arbitrator said that the discoverer had to actually exercise authority, even if it were as simple an act as planting a flag on the beach. In this case, Spain did not exercise authority over the island after making an initial claim after discovery and so the United States’ claim was based on relatively weak grounds.
Di ba may baranggay sa Kalayaan Islands? :D

May pag-asa tayo if we populate the "populable" islands that we claim :D :lol:

We could cite this decided case in the ICJ if ever the Spratlys issue goes over there.

Firstly, title based on contiguity has no standing in international law.
Secondly, title by discovery is only an inchoate title.
Finally, if another sovereign begins to exercise continuous and actual sovereignty, (and the arbitrator required that the claim had to be open and public and with good title), and the discoverer does not contest this claim, the claim by the sovereign that exercises authority is greater than a title based on mere discovery.

Eh bakit naman nag crashed?? Featured news to sa yahoo.news last day eh?:nuts:

Not really crashed but made a hard landing, to the point that the engine is damaged, thus nobody killed aboard. It is a typical SOP or mission order for special operations to destroy damaged equipment to prevent the secrets being compromised (in this case, the technology).

On the issue of Language used in Palmas circa 1906.
Which debunks claims from the Dutch side that there was no Spanish presence there. Where and how did the locals learn to speak some Spanish? If they only spoke Dutch, the disinterested Maj. General would have reported hiring a Dutch interpreter, but he didn’t.

The second paragraph points to the fallacy of American reasoning at that time. They were not really zealous enough because they spoke of the “trifling value” of the island and the words “diseased”, “destitute”, “low mentality” and “who speak a Malay-Spanish dialect” (Chavacanos de Palmas, anyone?). Even in the early 20th century, los Gringos already looked down on those who sound like coming from South of the Border … :D

hmm.. i didnt know there was a Spanish chavacano de Palmas (palmeno?).. what i do know is that area just south of the island particulary Sulawesi and Maluku, down to Ambon, Flores and Timor had a PORTUGUESE creole-speaking population, like the older Manado Malay-Portuguese among the Indos? and the now extinct Ternateno (the original from which this version of Chavacano spoken in Ternate, Cavite was derived before Spain brought their Mardica loyalists to Filipinas after their defeat at Tidore).
http://search.language-archives.org/record.html?q=Ternate%C3%B1o&id=ethnologue_com_tmg&

It is said that even long after the Dutch had defeated and expelled their Portuguese competition from Indonesia,[8] the language of trade remained the Malay/Portuguese language, which is reflected in the relatively many Portuguese words that survive in the Indonesian language to this day. So if you are familiar with any of our version of Chavacano, like Zamboangueno, you'll know that even they have been influenced by their southern neighbours and this creole legacy left behind by Portugal in Indonesia and even Malacca. The most obvious i guess is the word NA in our chavacano, instead of the Spanish EN...

So i was thinking maybe it was the same fallacy in reasoning that might have lead the Americans to assume it was Spanish they heard in Palmas and not Portuguese? Knowing they have this tendency to dismiss all foreign languages as automatically Spanish or Mexican even :lol: Aside from Portuguese being so closely related to Spanish. Anyway, im not trying to cast any doubt on the validity of our claim. im just curious and wanted to know more i guess :)

:D :D :D I wonder which apellido you must be carrying or related to? Que interesante. Hmmmmmmmmmm ... :?

yo? porque me preguntas mi apellido? que tiene que ver mi nombre con esa La Naval? :D

^any comments?
this map delineates the extent of each country's possessions back in the olden days.

may i know what year this Italian map dates from? poor drawing reminds me of the french d'abbeville map. although, is that Isla das Palmeiras right there by the southeast of Mindanao? this could have been one of those evidence presented by the US in the Miangas dispute, Isla das Palmeiras we all know is Isla de Palmas in Spanish. :)

Not really crashed but made a hard landing, to the point that the engine is damaged, thus nobody killed aboard. It is a typical SOP or mission order for special operations to destroy damaged equipment to prevent the secrets being compromise (in this case, the technology).


I see ganun pala yun ..tanx sir :)

hmm.. i didnt know there was a Spanish chavacano de Palmas (palmeno?).. what i do know is that area just south of the island particulary Sulawesi and Maluku, down to Ambon, Flores and Timor had a PORTUGUESE creole-speaking population, like the older Manado Malay-Portuguese among the Indos? and the now extinct Ternateno (the original from which this version of Chavacano spoken in Ternate, Cavite was derived before Spain brought their Mardica loyalists to Filipinas after their defeat at Tidore).
http://search.language-archives.org/record.html?q=Ternate%C3%B1o&id=ethnologue_com_tmg&

It is said that even long after the Dutch had defeated and expelled their Portuguese competition from Indonesia,[8] the language of trade remained the Malay/Portuguese language, which is reflected in the relatively many Portuguese words that survive in the Indonesian language to this day. So if you are familiar with any of our version of Chavacano, like Zamboangueno, you'll know that even they have been influenced by their southern neighbours and this creole legacy left behind by Portugal in Indonesia and even Malacca. The most obvious i guess is the word NA in our chavacano, instead of the Spanish EN...

So i was thinking maybe it was the same fallacy in reasoning that might have lead the Americans to assume it was Spanish they heard in Palmas and not Portuguese? Knowing they have this tendency to dismiss all foreign languages as automatically Spanish or Mexican even :lol: Aside from Portuguese being so closely related to Spanish. Anyway, im not trying to cast any doubt on the validity of our claim. im just curious and wanted to know more i guess :) I didn’t know either. :dunno: I just learnt about this reading the Philippine Law Journal document. :D That claim by the gringo Maj. General plus this article below from Wiki led me to deduce that the language spoken in Palmas was indeed, Spanish or Spanish based. If it was the latter, the so-called Malay-Spanish dialect, then it can be no other than another lost branch of Chavacano.

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

History
The first mention of Manado comes from a world map by cartographer Nicolas Desliens, where it showed the island Manarow (todays Manado Tua). Before Europeans arrived to North Sulawesi the area was under the rule of the Sultan of Ternate, who exacted tribute and introduced the Muslim religion among some of its inhabitants. The Portuguese made the Sultan their vassal, taking possession of the Minahasa and established a factory in Wenang.
Meanwhile, the Spanish had already set themselves up in the Philippines and Minahasa was used to plant coffee that came from South America because of its rich soil. Manado was further developed by Spain to become the center of commerce for the Chinese traders who traded the coffee in China. With the help of native allies the Spanish took over the Portuguese fortress in Amurang in the 1550s, and Spanish settlers also established a fort at Manado, so that eventually Spain controlled all of the Minahasa. It was in Manado where one of the first Indo-Eurasian (Mestizo) communities in the archipelago developed during the 16th century.[3] The first King of Manado (1630) named Muntu Untu was in fact the son of a Spanish Mestizo. [4]
Spain renounced to her possessions in Minahasa by means of a treaty with the Portuguese in return for a payment of 350,000 ducats.[5] Minahasan natives made an alliance treaty with the Dutch and expelled the last of the Portuguese from Manado a few years later.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Sulawesi_Locator_Topography.png/250px-Sulawesi_Locator_Topography.png
The Dutch East India Company or Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC) built a fortress in Manado named Fort Amsterdam in 1658. As with regions in eastern Indonesia, Manado has undergone Christianization by Dutch missionaries, including Riedel and John Gottlieb Schwarz. And the Dutch missionaries built the first Christian church in Manado called Oude Kerk (Old church) and it is still stand now and now it is called Gereja Sentrum. The Javanese prince Diponegoro was exiled to Manado by the Dutch government in 1830 for leading a war of rebellion against the Dutch. The English biologist Alfred Wallace visited Manado in 1859, and praised the town for its beauty.
In 1919, the Apostolic Prefecture of Celebes was established in the city. In 1961, it was promoted as the Diocese of Manado.

The city was heavily damaged by Allied bombing during World War II. In 1958, the headquarters of the rebel movement Permesta was moved to Manado. When Permesta confronted the central government with demands for political, economic and regional reform, Jakarta responded by bombing the city in February 1958, and then invading in June 1958. It seemed pretty clear that the first king of Manado (Muntu Untu) was the son of a Spanish Mestizo, not a Portuguese Mestizo. The Spanish presence was felt in Manado, which is even way further down south from the main Philippine archipelago compared to Palmas. It was also stated that a few years after the Spanish made a treaty with the Portuguese, the natives made a pact with the Dutch to expel the Portuguese. So deducing from that, perhaps the Portuguese hardly made a dent (culture wise) on any of these islands since they seemed to be roundly defeated always, first by the Spanish and then later on by the Dutch. I mean they can't possibly have taken root that fast. :D

Of course, these are all just circumstantial evidence and theories. But if the SIL says Ternateño is indeed Portuguese based, then perhaps they are more accurate because they are the linguistic experts.

But even if that were the case, a Portuguese Creole Ternateño would still further debunk claims by the Dutch at having had a cultural dent on Palmas which is already at the fringes of her Southeast Asian colony.

Now we delve into the Religious dimension.

Both Spain and Portugal are without the shadow of a doubt Roman Catholic. If the natives were indeed culturally immersed and proselytized in Protestantism, thence it follows by reason that the Palmas natives should by now be speaking the language of the Dutch Reformed Church. But such is not the case. The natives are clearly speaking a Latin based Creole. So there goes the Protestant cultural immersion claim, it is a farce and not fact. :yes:

@Avenger is correct about the home town decision. All arbitration was done at the Hague and that pendejo Huber does not know anything.

I do not understand why the Philippines has so many brilliant lawyers and why is it that none are too enthusiastic in taking on our Real Estate claims in a court of law at the ICJ???? Take for instance the voluminous documentation and evidence provided by the Sultan of Sulu re Sabah!!! I mean it’s mind boggling. Sabah is a no ordinary pile of caca and it rightfully belongs to us.
yo? porque me preguntas mi apellido? que tiene que ver mi nombre con esa La Naval? :D awww, wala lang. :D nag phishing este, nagtatanong lang pala. The coincidence was striking since I remembered that post of mine at the other thread. Que curioso, pero yo suspecho que no estoy lejos de mi teoria. :colgate:

too often, in defense and security, we are taken away by the high tech and surgical precision of new weapons. but maximum advantage of new and advanced weaponry can only be realized by the matching skills of the troops that use these stings of war. here is the devgru. they are otherwise known as seal team 6. the US SEALS is consistenly ranked as the number 2 or 3 best special forces organization in the world. within the US SEALS itself is this most elite devgru unit. members in this organization are chosen from among the active SEALS troops. you don't apply for a DEVGRU membership. rather, you are handpicked. that's how discriminating the process is.

here is a featured clip of the unit who made the daring and near perfect surgical liquidation operation in abottabad recently.

Io0jLmlTT1E

which brings me to this, i wonder if our own special ops are doing periodic reconnaisance and covert infiltration of the enemy?

Disclaimer. Of course not. This is not a debate in the traditional sense of the word, SSC Style. For the reason that we are both on the same side, the Philippine side. Le Reine is merely playing Devil’s advocate should any (future) interested Philippine party pursue our Real Estate claims on the Palmas front, as well as the Sabah and Spratleys if I may. The role of a Devil’s advocate is to ensure that all bases are covered and the points presented are sound and do not have loopholes.

(:no: Much as I admit missing the language debates of yesteryears. Now those were adorable and lovely debates).

On the issue of Language used in Palmas circa 1906.
Which debunks claims from the Dutch side that there was no Spanish presence there. Where and how did the locals learn to speak some Spanish? If they only spoke Dutch, the disinterested Maj. General would have reported hiring a Dutch interpreter, but he didn’t.

The second paragraph points to the fallacy of American reasoning at that time. They were not really zealous enough because they spoke of the “trifling value” of the island and the words “diseased”, “destitute”, “low mentality” and “who speak a Malay-Spanish dialect” (Chavacanos de Palmas, anyone?). Even in the early 20th century, los Gringos already looked down on those who sound like coming from South of the Border … :D

In this day and age, one cannot be dismissive of any island or islet as mere trifling in value. Nobody took a second look at the Spratleys till everyone decided the Spratleys were important. A Lesson to be learnt. :colgate:

senor mercato, perhaps you might wanna consider flipping through the pages of what i consider to be goldmines in as far as strengthening our legit (?) claims on the sabah issue. this was written by the great late haydee yorac (now, i wish we have leaders of her mold today!). if i'm not mistaken, she raised the issue to the UN using this position paper. here's the link.

http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2058/PLJ%20volume%2058%20second%20quarter%20-03-%20Haydee%20B.%20Yorac%20-%20The%20Philippine%20Claim%20to%20the%20Spratly%20Island%20Group.pdf

well, it has a slight resemblance of the RAH-66 Comanche. Baka derivation yan nun.

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot/modernplanes/helicopters-c-g/comanche.GIF

i saw the prototype of that comanche helicopter and its demonstrated capabilities. it was featured in discovery channel years ago. that was an amazing weapon. budget constraints killed the project.

^^Unconfirmed report that the PN is adding more equipments to the BRP Lapu Lapu (Hamilton Class Cutter) before it departs for the philippines. The money they spent went up to P1.2B, more than the cost of the ship itself. So just imagine what type of possible weapon system will be installed there, im hoping they finally will install atleast some ASW or missile weapons or both.

^^ P1.2B, so they better show that the armaments and/or capabilities of that ship are really worth P1.2B. evidence to the contrary would only further erode the public's confidence on our afp higher ups. the organization has yet to recover its reputation after that senate inquiry-turned-investigation which culminated in angie reyes' suicide.

Eh bakit naman nag crashed?? Featured news to sa yahoo.news last day eh?:nuts:

na sobrahan daw sa pag descend sa targeted area. i'm not knowledgeable with those but the gist of it appears to be not having enough wind to keep the helicopter airborne. dahil nga to sa sobrang pag descend daw which was aggravated by the walls surrounding the compound. i'm not sure though if i correctly understood it.

na sobrahan daw sa pag descend sa targeted area. i'm not knowledgeable with those but the gist of it appears to be not having enough wind to keep the helicopter airborne. dahil nga to sa sobrang pag descend daw which was aggravated by the walls surrounding the compound. i'm not sure though if i correctly understood it.

Its because of the hot and humid climate of Pakistan.

The hotter the air, the less lift the helicopter gets thus harder to manuever.

na sobrahan daw sa pag descend sa targeted area. i'm not knowledgeable with those but the gist of it appears to be not having enough wind to keep the helicopter airborne. dahil nga to sa sobrang pag descend daw which was aggravated by the walls surrounding the compound. i'm not sure though if i correctly understood it.

Its because of the hot and humid climate of Pakistan.

The hotter the air, the less lift the helicopter gets thus harder to manuever.

And also to point out that Abbottabad sits 1,260 meters above sea level. The higher the altitude, the density of air is lesser.

Thus the aviation term hot and high (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_and_high).

senor mercato, perhaps you might wanna consider flipping through the pages of what i consider to be goldmines in as far as strengthening our legit (?) claims on the sabah issue. this was written by the great late haydee yorac (now, i wish we have leaders of her mold today!). if i'm not mistaken, she raised the issue to the UN using this position paper. here's the link.

http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2058/PLJ%20volume%2058%20second%20quarter%20-03-%20Haydee%20B.%20Yorac%20-%20The%20Philippine%20Claim%20to%20the%20Spratly%20Island%20Group.pdf Thanks thanks :colgate: ... it's quite a read,, but owing to more pressing concerns elsewhere, I'll have to take a backseat whilst slowly digesting this... what I gleaned from Haydee's POV is that a physical presence is paramount to the strengthening of our claims re the Spratleys. If I may add further, it should be a physical presence backed by credible military muscle. IMO, the reason why Singapore won the Pedra Branca case vs. Malaysia was precisely due to her physical presence on the island for ages. Plus the fact that the S.A.F. is no pushover and her much bigger neighbour cannot resort to bullying tactics. We can apply the same principle to the Sabah & Palmas cases... Did I remember correctly that someone up there in the North (Taiwan) is also laying claims to some parts of Batanes?

^^oh sure! just play it by ear and take your time!:) then if you have more than enough time for a leisurely but cerebral indulgence, then just feel free to post here your own take on that position paper. i myself am still getting a just little bit more familiar about this issue. unlike some of you folks here who, at the very least, already have quite troves of knowledge on this.:)

na sobrahan daw sa pag descend sa targeted area. i'm not knowledgeable with those but the gist of it appears to be not having enough wind to keep the helicopter airborne. dahil nga to sa sobrang pag descend daw which was aggravated by the walls surrounding the compound. i'm not sure though if i correctly understood it.

Its because of the hot and humid climate of Pakistan.

The hotter the air, the less lift the helicopter gets thus harder to manuever.

And also to point out that Abbottabad sits 1,260 meters above sea level. The higher the altitude, the density of air is lesser.

Thus the aviation term hot and high (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_and_high).


That new stealth chopper most likely crashed because it was too heavy, it added more than 800 lbs to its original payload of 1,200 lbs empty. It must have been a combination of a human error and its weight... Because there were another one of it and it survived during the raid. This is also the first time this new stealth chopper have crashed, out of its i believe 12 units that were secretly built since the 1990's. I heard they been used more than a dozen times already and all of them have came back safely, well except for that one incident.

:cheers:

Thanks for sharing this from his facebook site:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197133_10150129746024302_595379301_6735493_6585763_n.jpg
Photo caption from Facebook:1986 photo where my Dad was in one of the F8 Crusaders escorting a PAL B747 out of the country with Former President Cory Aquino on board on her first official visit to the USA. Ten years later, he was a pilot for that PAL B747. Nice one Daddy-yo!

Photo courtesy of Pao Carlos from Facebook

This is it! It's about time for the AFP to switch to advance missile and electronic warfare, and the PN should be the first one to be armed with this weapon systems....

The good news here is that they retained the Mark 92 FCS (Fire Control System) in the Hamilton. This system means it provides a fast reaction, high fire-power, all-weather weapons control system for use against air and surface targets. The Mark 92's surface and air surveillance capability gives highly accurate gun and missile control against air and surface targets. So it seems like it's the prelude for an upcoming missile acquisition, if ever, for the arriving ship.

Let's just all pray hard to our gods that they would give some great combined wisdom to our government and military officials to finally provide the PN with it's first true missile-armed frigate.

That new stealth chopper most likely crashed because it was too heavy, it added more than 800 lbs to its original payload of 1,200 lbs empty. It must have been a combination of a human error and its weight... Because there were another one of it and it survived during the raid. This is also the first time this new stealth chopper have crashed, out of its i believe 12 units that were secretly built since the 1990's. I heard they been used more than a dozen times already and all of them have came back safely, well except for that one incident.

:cheers:


Top Secret Stealth Helicopter Program Revealed in Osama Bin Laden Raid: Experts


http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/top-secret-stealth-helicopter-program-revealed-osama-bin/story?id=13530693&page=2

May 4, 2011
Parts of Helicopter Taken From Crash Site

The U.S. has attempted to use stealth helicopters before. In the mid-90s, the Army developed several prototypes of the Comanche helicopter, a reconnaissance helicopter that was at the time a revolutionary step in stealth technology. But in 2004 the Department of Defense scrapped the program and promised to used technology developed for the Comanche on other crafts.

Since, the government has been working to silence the Army's Blackhawk helicopters but an official program for the stealth choppers was never publicized. The wreckage, Sweetman said, is the first the public has ever seen of an operational stealth-modified helicopter.

Goure said he believes the stealthy Blackhawks have been in use for years without the public's knowledge.

"We probably have been running hundreds of missions with these helicopters over the last half dozen years, and the fact is, they've all been successful -- or at least the helicopters have all come back," he said.

But now that one went down and photographs emerged of large sections being taken from the crash site under a tarp, former White House counterterrorism advisor and ABC News consultant Richard Clarke said U.S. officials may have reason to worry about where those parts end up.

"There are probably people in the Pentagon tonight who are very concerned that pieces of the helicopter may be, even now, on their way to China, because we know that China is trying to make stealth aircraft," he said. The Chinese military is known to have a close relationship with the Pakistani military.

Thanks thanks :colgate: ... it's quite a read,, but owing to more pressing concerns elsewhere, I'll have to take a backseat whilst slowly digesting this... what I gleaned from Haydee's POV is that a physical presence is paramount to the strengthening of our claims re the Spratleys. If I may add further, it should be a physical presence backed by credible military muscle. IMO, the reason why Singapore won the Pedra Branca case vs. Malaysia was precisely due to her physical presence on the island for ages. Plus the fact that the S.A.F. is no pushover and her much bigger neighbour cannot resort to bullying tactics. We can apply the same principle to the Sabah & Palmas cases... Did I remember correctly that someone up there in the North (Taiwan) is also laying claims to some parts of Batanes?

Based on the Palmas adjudication, the ICJ implied that the exercise of sovereignty defeats historical and other claims. I think there is a summary in Wikipedia. If we "populate" the "populatable" (livable?) islands in the Spratly's we might be able to defeat China's claims. Di ba we have a baranggay somewhere in the Kalayaan?

^^ Naku, tayo pinakadelikado dyan kapag nakuha ng China :lol:

Time to populate the Spratly's. If they do anything military, we can complain human rights violations against them :lol:

^^ Naku, tayo pinakadelikado dyan kapag nakuha ng China :lol:

Time to populate the Spratly's. If they do anything military, we can complain human rights violations against them :lol:

hehehehe exactly! :lol:

Based on the Palmas adjudication, the ICJ implied that the exercise of sovereignty defeats historical and other claims. I think there is a summary in Wikipedia. If we "populate" the "populatable" (livable?) islands in the Spratly's we might be able to defeat China's claims. Di ba we have a baranggay somewhere in the Kalayaan? unfortunately, that seemed to be the case w.r.t. Palmas. Thence it was also applied with other foreign cases, Pedra Branca, the Greenland case, etc.

Seems like an application of these 2 adages, If you don't use it, you lose it and Possession is 9/10 of the Law.

Some more points.
http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2077/PLJ%20volume%2077%20number%204%20-01-%20Prof.%20H.%20Harry%20L.%20Roque,%20Jr%20-%20Palmas%20Arbitration%20Revisited.pdf
The Americans nevertheless pursued the arbitration owing to adverse public reaction that followed a report in 1911 that Dutch authorities tore down the flag of the United States found in the island.
The American claim to the island was summarized as follows:
1. That the island lies well within the demarcation of Article 3 of the Treaty of Paris of December 10, 1898 between the United States and Spain ceding the Philippine Archipelago to the United States;
2. That the island is approximately twelve miles nearer the island of Mindanao, …., than to any of the smaller islands of the Dutch Archipelago;
3. That the island is well within the limits marked by the Bull of Alexander VI date May 4, 1493;
4. That the island is well within the limits of the agreement concluded in July 4, 1494 between Spain and Portugal;
5. That the union of Spain and Portugal in 1580 should remove any doubts as to the title of the Island prior to that time;
6. That the Government of Spain considered the Island as one of its oceanic possessions;
7. That Spain never relinquished control over the island except to the United States’
8. That Spain exercised sovereignty over the Philippines archipelago as a whole and it was not necessary for Spain, in order to sustain its sovereignty over each individual island of the Archipelago, to maintain separate administrations over the island. @señor omnislash, that ancient map seems to be written in old Italian, neither spanish nor portuguese. And it shows nuova hollanda as outside the boundaries of Southeast asia at that time. Could that possibly be the Bull of Alexander VI? The Bull separated the known world at that time between the 2 dominant powers of that age, Spain and Portugal. Evidence was also uncovered in the archives of Seville, Spain showing that Spain sent an expedition to the Island in 1710, and that a group of Jesuit missionaries were actually sent to settle in the island with the avowed goal of converting the natives and to exercise occupation of the island on behalf of the Spanish crown. @señor manileño, this could also possibly explain the latin-creole language found there... ang galing talaga ng mga Jesuits... :D

^^ If a group of Jesuits went there, then I think that counts for exercise of sovereignty? I think the Kanos were just on the wrong side of the argument :lol:

^^ if a group of Jesuits went there (albeit for a short period perhaps), then they left behind a Latin based Creole, be it spanish or portuguese based (cualquiera de los dos) ... :lol: nowhere do we find anyone speaking Dutch based creole. :D

most of the gringo's arguments were sound enough, though they were half-hearted in their pursuit.

Some more points.
http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2077/PLJ%20volume%2077%20number%204%20-01-%20Prof.%20H.%20Harry%20L.%20Roque,%20Jr%20-%20Palmas%20Arbitration%20Revisited.pdf

@señor omnislash, that ancient map seems to be written in old Italian, neither spanish nor portuguese. And it shows nuova hollanda as outside the boundaries of Southeast asia at that time. Could that possibly be the Bull of Alexander VI? The Bull separated the known world at that time between the 2 dominant powers of that age, Spain and Portugal. @señor manileño, this could also possibly explain the latin-creole language found there... ang galing talaga ng mga Jesuits... :D

So what this all about, are the group of islands in spratlys and sabah are rightfuly and lawfully supposed to be part of the philippines?

.


Photos of Batanes Islands taken last 3rd May 2011.



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01806.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01809.jpg


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http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01823.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01824.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01825.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC01826.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/bataneschart003.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/amianantosabtang.jpg




http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/batanesmapanddampiersbatanesmap.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/dampiersBatanes.jpg

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks05/0500461h.html



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/boundarybataneswithcaptions.jpg



The confusing wording in the mentioned Treaty of Peace resulted to claims by Taiwan.

Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain; December 10, 1898

Article III.

Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line:

A line running from west to east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45']) north latitude, thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45') north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35') east of Greenwich, thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35') east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40') north, thence along the parallel of latitude of seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40') north to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning.The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp


*************************************************

Manila's weak claim to the Batanes
By Chen Hurng-yu 陳鴻瑜

Only a few missionaries lived on the Batanes and Babuyan islands, while the Spanish colonial administration was located at the northern harbor of Aparri on Luzon. In other words, Spain never exercised administrative control over the Batanes Islands before the US took over the Philippines.

Jay Batongbacal, a lawyer, argues that Spain ruled the Batanes Islands starting in 1783 and that the islands have belonged to the Philippines since 1895. In 1898, Katipunan, a Philippine revolutionary organization, even sent troops to the islands to resist Spanish rule, he says.


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front

Taiwan or China will never win Batanes based on claims. We have been practicing our sovereignty over the islands for hundreds of years. We even have old Spanish lighthouse over there!

China and Taiwan should realize it's the 20th century, not 1600 or 1800 -- the peak of colonization.

8MDKOHpigT0

spearhead: is it officially named BRP Lapu-Lapu? Wala pa naman confirmation.

So what this all about, are the group of islands in spratlys and sabah are rightfuly and lawfully supposed to be part of the philippines? Yes!!! :yes:

Although I dunno much about the Spratleys, we had discussed Sabah in an entire thread sometime back. According to the documentary evidence and historical claims by the Sultan of Sulu to which he passed on full authority to the Philippine government to pursue his legal claims, yes we rightfully own Sabah. :pepper:

^^i agree!:cool:

@señor avenger, thanks for the articles, maps and pics... great reading material :cool:

imo, the best thing for us for the moment is to keep Taiwan off balance by making it busy with its China monitoring activities. The worst thing is a union bet the two, for that would bring China's blue water navy closer to Batanes. hmmm

Thanks for sharing this from his facebook site:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197133_10150129746024302_595379301_6735493_6585763_n.jpg
Photo caption from Facebook:1986 photo where my Dad was in one of the F8 Crusaders escorting a PAL B747 out of the country with Former President Cory Aquino on board on her first official visit to the USA. Ten years later, he was a pilot for that PAL B747. Nice one Daddy-yo!

Photo courtesy of Pao Carlos from Facebook

This is a very amazing Photo, guys sorry may pagka mangyan talaga ako pero ngayon lang ako nakakita ng aerial convoy ng President natin unlike the famous Airforce One of the U.S hehehe. It only shows na maayos ang ang Airforce na iniwan ni Marcos after that di na nasundan :bash:

'Super force' vs terror underway (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=683656&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated May 08, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are forming a joint “super force” to address and fight terrorism and other forms of traditional internal security threats in the country.

To involve all military and police operational units from the highest to the lowest command level, the super force will be jointly headed by AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. and PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, with the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations (J3) and the chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations (DO) at the helm of the joint military and police endeavors.

President Aquino recently ordered the leadership of the AFP and PNP to harmonize and integrate all their efforts in the anti-criminality, anti-terrorism, anti-insurgency campaigns.

“The order came from the President for us (the PNP and AFP) to put together men and resources in addressing traditional threats and the terror menace,” said Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of PNP directorate for operations.

Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the creation of the super force is aimed at integrating all police and military endeavors and to ensure interoperability between the two forces.

This means that all military and police operational units - from area commands and its counterparts - would combine their efforts to neutralize traditional threats to national security as well as terror groups.

Mabanta said the super force will be operating under the AFP-PNP Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council (PSCC), a strategy crafted to inter-operationalize all military and police functions in the May 2010 presidential elections.

Santiago said the super force, once in operation, would immediately buckle down to work and prioritize its efforts against terror threats anywhere in the country as well as the mounting incidences of kidnappings, specifically in Cotabato City, Marawi City and Jolo, Sulu.

AFP to Abu Sayyaf: You can run but you can’t hide

Meanwhile, the military warned the Abu Sayyaf and its Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) cohorts hiding in the country to surrender or be neutralized, as their hiding place is “getting smaller.”

The military said they were reviving the intense information campaign on the reward system for civilians and even those in the ranks of the terrorist groups to help law enforcement agencies and the military to run after high-value targets.

Sen. Francis Escudero has warned the public not to be complacent about national security following the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden because his death may not signify the end of terrorism.

Escudero said the intelligence network is aware that there are pocket groups of al-Qaeda terrorists operating in different countries, thus the need for heightened vigilance.

“That’s one thing that will be bugging them right now, that they (local terrorists) have no place to hide anymore, because for sure they will be tracked down,” said Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command.

“They have no choice but to surrender or be neutralized,” he said.

Cabangbang said the revival of the reward system would, in effect, “tell the terrorists that they don’t have a hold on all people.”

The military over the weekend announced the $5-million bounty offered for the capture of al-Qaeda-linked terrorist leader Zulkifli Abdhir, a Malaysian who is known to go by the aliases of Marwan, Zulkifli Abd Hir and Zulkifli Bin Abdul Hir.

Cabangbang said Abdhir, who was placed on the US State Department’s most wanted list in 2003, is known to be a senior member of several criminal groups in the southern Philippines with links to al-Qaeda.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that Abdhir is considered “armed and dangerous” and his presence in Mindanao presents danger to the public.

Cabangbang said there are a number of Abu Sayyaf leaders and members with huge bounties on their heads, like Radullan Sahiron, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula, Isnilon Hapilon, Puruji Indama, and Nurhassan Jamiri. - With Roel Pareño, Eva Visperas

more...

http://law.upd.edu.ph/plj/images/files/PLJ%20volume%2077/PLJ%20volume%2077%20number%204%20-01-%20Prof.%20H.%20Harry%20L.%20Roque,%20Jr%20-%20Palmas%20Arbitration%20Revisited.pdf

Huber rejected the contiguity theory based solely on the alleged lack of a positive rule that such a theory is recognized in international law. There was an obvious hesitancy on his part to establish a precedent on this matter, despite the fact that he would later on establish two revolutionary and precedent-setting rulings on inter-temporal law and the use of critical dates.

It is not true that there was no positive rule in international law that would support the American argument that possession of a part of the archipelago results in an effective occupation of all the islands comprising the unit. It was pointed out in the American memorandum and later on by Jessup, that Venezuela, in the British Guiana Boundary Arbitration, already raised the proposition that occupation to be effective need not extend to every nook and corner of the territory. Some examples given by Venezuela in that arbitration was the constructive occupation of parts of the American and Canadian wilderness which had the effect of possession of the entire area; as well as the English occupation of parts of Australia and New Zealand, which had the effect of possession over the entire continent. Huber rejects the contiguity theory because of his own bias for his friends at the Hague, and yet only 5 years later the Permanent Court of International Justice itself would recognize the Contiguity Theory. Therefore, Huber's ruling can still be reversed, if anyone from our government puts his mind to it and reopens the case.It did not come as a surprise that only five years after Huber’s award and Jessup’s article, the Permanent Court of International Justice would expressly recognize the existence of the same rule, which Huber declared was non-existent. In the Legal Status of Eastern Greenland Case, the Court recognized that Denmark’s possession of part of Greenland was sufficient evidence of her possession of the whole disputed area.Critics may point out that the arguments advanced by Jessup in 1928 could be dismissed as biased. As an American, he would understandably be displeased with an award rendered against his own state. But Assistant Professor Philip Jessup would later on become one of the most eminent publicists in International Law, a stature which would culminate with his appointment as a Judge of the International Court of Justice. Jessup is no lightweight, the fact that he later on becomes one of the judges at the International Court of Justice lends more credence and weight to his arguments over the Palmas case. IMO, the case must be reopened.

Yes!!! :yes:

Although I dunno much about the Spratleys, we had discussed Sabah in an entire thread sometime back. According to the documentary evidence and historical claims by the Sultan of Sulu to which he passed on full authority to the Philippine government to pursue his legal claims, yes we rightfully own Sabah. :pepper:

Just wondering if the Sultanate of Brunei felt regret when they gave their property to the Sultan of Sulu while the latter just lost it possession of Sabah to Malaysia. And Brunei now is one of the smallest country.

Siguro napapakamot ng ulo mga yun haisssst binigyan na nga ng lupain pinamigay din. :bash::bash::bash:

Manila's weak claim to the Batanes
By Chen Hurng-yu 陳鴻瑜

Only a few missionaries lived on the Batanes and Babuyan islands, while the Spanish colonial administration was located at the northern harbor of Aparri on Luzon. In other words, Spain never exercised administrative control over the Batanes Islands before the US took over the Philippines.

Jay Batongbacal, a lawyer, argues that Spain ruled the Batanes Islands starting in 1783 and that the islands have belonged to the Philippines since 1895. In 1898, Katipunan, a Philippine revolutionary organization, even sent troops to the islands to resist Spanish rule, he says.


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front

can you post here the direct link as i couldnt find the article in the website you provided. i wanted to know if this news was recent and if Taiwan is indeed still actively pursuing its retarded claim over Batanes. :lol:

Taiwan or China will never win Batanes based on claims. We have been practicing our sovereignty over the islands for hundreds of years. We even have old Spanish lighthouse over there!

China and Taiwan should realize it's the 20th century, not 1600 or 1800 -- the peak of colonization.

Continuous and peaceful display of sovereignty..:okay: true, the lighthouses plus the Missionary style churches in Santo Domingo de Basco, San Carlos de Marigatao (Mahatao), San Jose de Ibana (Ivana), San Vicente de Sabtan (Sabtang) and Santa Maria de Mayan (Itbayat). And then you also have Spain's undeniable imprint over the native Ivatan culture and language that has served as a bridge between the islands and the rest of the archipelago. Stupid Treaty just missed out these islands (like Kalayaan) thats why you have countries like Taiwan claiming them. Has our northern limit been corrected anyway?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/343496548_0e1acee19d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2825603198_8b6fcd8cb9.jpg

'Super force' vs terror underway (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=683656&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

Philippine Navy Seals?:lol:

can you post here the direct link as i couldnt find the article in the website you provided. i wanted to know if this news was recent and if Taiwan is indeed still actively pursuing its retarded claim over Batanes. :lol:



Continuous and peaceful display of sovereignty..:okay: true, the lighthouses plus the Missionary style churches in Santo Domingo de Basco, San Carlos de Marigatao (Mahatao), San Jose de Ibana (Ivana), San Vicente de Sabtan (Sabtang) and Santa Maria de Mayan (Itbayat). And then you also have Spain's undeniable imprint over the native Ivatan culture and language that has served as a bridge between the islands and the rest of the archipelago. Stupid Treaty just missed out these islands (like Kalayaan) thats why you have countries like Taiwan claiming them. Has our northern limit been corrected anyway?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/343496548_0e1acee19d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2825603198_8b6fcd8cb9.jpg

Just because the treaty forgot Batanes, it does not automatically mean they are part of China/Taiwan when there is no evidence of either if the two exercising sovereignty over the islands...they dont even have solid claims on the islands. All is just their neocolonialism strategy

Philippine Navy Seals?:lol:

Combined forces of AFP and PNP, elite unit from elite special forces and special action force of the PNP.

Dapat, gumawa na kasi sila ng 300 Spartans, the philippines' Joint Counter Terrorrist Force version from PNP-SAF, PN, PA, and PHAF. Members are from different special forces groups, and should be atleast a minimum of between 30 yrs old to 45 yrs old, para kaya pang tumakbo, tumalon, lumangoy, at lahat ng physical fitness, and no fear whatsoever (skydiving, water, secluded areas, tunnels, etc...), and is mentally stable, mentally tough! Kung baga, sila ang mga supermen ng ating mga special forces.

They should pattern it with the canadian JCTTF 2 (Joint Counter-Terrorrist Task Force) or the Israeli Sayaret commandos, and the british SAS.

DONT pattern it with the US special forces because they are still a bit clamsy.

And we can call our own elite of the elite, the supermen, CTF (Counter Terrorrist Force) or JCTF (Joint Counter-Terrorrist Force) and nicknamed them as the "300 Spartans".

spearhead: is it officially named BRP Lapu-Lapu? Wala pa naman confirmation.

Hindi pa confirmed, but most likely yan nayun. :)

Yes!!! :yes:

Although I dunno much about the Spratleys, we had discussed Sabah in an entire thread sometime back. According to the documentary evidence and historical claims by the Sultan of Sulu to which he passed on full authority to the Philippine government to pursue his legal claims, yes we rightfully own Sabah. :pepper:


Well then, atleast the RP government have never dropped their claim yet in Sabah. But they do have to push it and atleast ask to divide sabah to north and south. :cheers:

This is a very amazing Photo, guys sorry may pagka mangyan talaga ako pero ngayon lang ako nakakita ng aerial convoy ng President natin unlike the famous Airforce One of the U.S hehehe. It only shows na maayos ang ang Airforce na iniwan ni Marcos after that di na nasundan :bash:

And the very own person they were escorting was the one who screwed up the AFP and the philippines as a whole.

Just because the treaty forgot Batanes, it does not automatically mean they are part of China/Taiwan when there is no evidence of either if the two exercising sovereignty over the islands...they dont even have solid claims on the islands. All is just their neocolonialism strategy absolutely right you are... an omission does not automatically mean they can just ride roughshod all over the place. But whether we like it or not, it cannot escape notice that these 2 northern powers are playing the "Realpolitik" card. :ohno:

Realpolitik - refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on power and on practical and material factors and considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic or ethical premises. In this respect, it shares aspects of its philosophical approach with those of realism and pragmatism. The term realpolitik is sometimes used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian. Realpolitik is a theory of politics that focuses on considerations of power, not ideals, morals, or principles.

To paraphrase the late leader Mao Zedong, power grows out of the barrel of the gun. That is exactly what they are gunning for, pardon the pun. We are still outgunned and outperformed both in the military and economic spheres. It's gonna take a herculean task to upgrade this military up to par with the northerners, I'm afraid.

absolutely right you are... an omission does not automatically mean they can just ride roughshod all over the place. But whether we like it or not, it cannot escape notice that these 2 northern powers are playing the "Realpolitik" card. :ohno:



To paraphrase the late leader Mao Zedong, power grows out of the barrel of the gun. That is exactly what they are gunning for, pardon the pun. We are still outgunned and outperformed both in the military and economic spheres. It's gonna take a herculean task to upgrade this military up to par with the northerners, I'm afraid.

Unfortunately, the government had only not neglected our economy but also our military. I think all we can do (while we are upgrading our military) is to be firm in our exercise of sovereignty on our territory and others we claim as ours. Else, we'll be ran over by those people in the North. I really understand the conflict in the Spratlys, but people north of our country trying to claim Batanes is crossing the line. If we don't prevent them, they will slowly eat us and we lose our country to them.

^^ yea. imagine if oil is also discovered in Batanes haha! that will be a sure fire recipe for another military standoff ala Spratleys. :lol: anyway, is our sovereignty in Batanes really being actively contested by these two Chinas? cos if it is and these islands are exposed to invasion because of their ambitious claims, i think now is the best time to put an end to those lingering questions of who the rightful owner is and resolve this 'dispute' right away in the ICJ. We should win this one easily :lol: Our budget secretary under PNOY also happens to be an Ivatan himself and owns this famous mansion and other tracts of land in the islands. So there should be no problem with budget in defending Batanes under this admin at least. hehe :D

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cziVg1DlwEE/Si8ZWKWX0kI/AAAAAAAAC7g/-lbTZ47CV9Y/s400/62+fundacion+pacita+copy.jpg
Fundacion Pacita Abad
Basco, Batanes

^^ They are using the Treaty of Paris to say we have weak claims yet they do not present any strong claim why Batanes should belong to them. Para silang sumusugod ng walang panangga. :lol:

Just wondering if the Sultanate of Brunei felt regret when they gave their property to the Sultan of Sulu while the latter just lost it possession of Sabah to Malaysia. And Brunei now is one of the smallest country.

Siguro napapakamot ng ulo mga yun haisssst binigyan na nga ng lupain pinamigay din. :bash::bash::bash:The British East India Company did use persuasive means to obtain the lease which became "permanent". They brought along the guns of the British Navy.
Well then, atleast the RP government have never dropped their claim yet in Sabah. But they do have to push it and atleast ask to divide sabah to north and south. :cheers:I do hope some brilliant lawyer in government can bring the case to the ICJ for arbitration. What do you mean by North and South Sabah?^^ They are using the Treaty of Paris to say we have weak claims yet they do not present any strong claim why Batanes should belong to them. Para silang sumusugod ng walang panangga. :lol:They do not need to have a panangga & they know it. They have superior military forces. But to keep our hopes up, Vietnam defied China once upon a time in the 70s ata and gave Chinese land forces a bloodied nose whilst they invaded Cambodia. There was an article in Time Mag about it, "When Communists Collide".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Vietnamese_War
The Sino–Vietnamese War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Trung), also known as the Third Indochina War, known in the PRC as 对越自卫反击战 (duì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn) (Counterattack against Vietnam in Self-Defense) and in Vietnam as Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa (War against Chinese expansionism), was a brief but bloody border war fought in 1979 between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The PRC launched the offensive in response to Vietnam's 1978 invasion and occupation of Cambodia, which ended the reign of the PRC-backed Khmer Rouge.

^^ Yes, commies vs commies. I do even think that the Soviet Union and China really trusted each other

Yes, you are right when the Vietnamese drove away the invading Chinese. To think of it itwas a few years when the Vietnam war ended. But then, many centuries ago, the Vietnamese kicked out the Chinese... that was before the Europeans came to the Asian shores

^^ Nope, China backed Cambodia whilst Russia backed Vietnam. All 4 were Commies back then... Russia and China never trusted each other. After WWII, Russia purposely guaranteed the independence of Mongolia as a buffer state against the Chinese.

How about having defense ties with Russia? :D After all, Russia is still a power and Russian weapons tend to be less costly but still effective... Everyone's building up their Fleets and so should we. After all, we are an archipelago and still have many fringe islands to protect... She can also provide a counterweight to China.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110327/163230100.html

Missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russian Pacific Fleet in 2013 -Navy
11:22 27/03/2011

http://en.rian.ru/images/16323/01/163230141.jpg

The Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2013 after repairs, a high-placed official of the Russian Navy said on Sunday.

"In two years, the cruiser may be transferred from Severomorsk to Vladivostok to reinforce the grouping of the Pacific Fleet's surface ships," the admiral said, adding that the Navy's main headquarters was considering this possibility, although a final decision had not yet been made.

The Marshal Ustinov, a Slava-class missile cruiser, was launched in 1982 and commissioned with the Russian Northern Fleet in 1986.

"Now the cruiser is preparing for medium repairs in the Northern Fleet," the admiral said, adding that the cruiser's transfer to the Russian Far East was due to the quick ageing of the Pacific Fleet's warships and the need for this kind of ships to support the combat stability of the grouping of the fleet's strategic and multipurpose nuclear submarines.

The Marshal Ustinov cruiser has been designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-air and ASW capability. It is fitted with sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox nuclear-capable supersonic anti-ship missiles, which are mounted in four pairs on either side of the superstructure.

In addition, the cruiser reportedly carries 64 SA-N-6 Grumble long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and 40 SA-N-4 Gecko short-range SAMs.

NATO experts had dubbed Russian combat ships of this class "the killer of aircraft carriers," as it can carry 1,000 kg of high-explosives, or a tactical nuclear warhead, out to a range of 300 nautical miles.

MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti)

:cool:

My bad, I actually meant never trusted each other. Now, reading back.... I should have proof read. But there was that friction between the then-Soviet Union and PRC.

Does Russia sell second hand? :D

I guess it's a commie thing not to trust each other either. Their warsaw pact is unlike NATO. And from my readings even Ho Chi Minh never trusted China despite the aid in the Vietnam war.

sorry it aint youtube so I cant dispaly the vid. Its from a russian government site... :D For the full videos you can also search youtube but the parade is very long and with 11 videos to it...

Russia displays military might at Victory Day parade
Topic:Victory Day celebrations on May 9, 2011

http://en.rian.ru/video/20110509/163933945.html

A military parade dedicated to the 66th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany was held on Red Square in Moscow on Monday.

The parade involved a march pass of 20,000 servicemen and over 100 pieces of military hardware, including Topol-M ballistic missile launchers, S-400 Triumph air defense systems, Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems, Iskander-M missile launchers, Smerch multiple rocket launchers, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, and T-90 main battle tanks.

The event culminated with a flyover by a group of five Mi-8 multirole helicopters carrying Russian state and military flags.

The commentary to the video is provided only in Russian.

:cool:

spearhead: is it officially named BRP Lapu-Lapu? Wala pa naman confirmation.
Hindi pa confirmed, but most likely yan nayun. :)


The BRP Ang Pangulo (http://www.harpoondatabases.com/Encyclopedia/Entry2722.aspx) was formerly known as BRP Lapu-Lapu.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3293119858_fbb2545361.jpg

The Philippine Navy recycles ships but doesn't recycle ship names!

this is the direct link :

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/12/23/2003393815/2


[QUOTE=manileño;77455311]can you post here the direct link as i couldnt find the article in the website you provided. i wanted to know if this news was recent and if Taiwan is indeed still actively pursuing its retarded claim over Batanes. :lol:

Did U.S. forces use secret stealth helicopters in bin Laden raid?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383482/Osama-Bin-Laden-dead-Did-US-forces-use-stealth-helicopters-raid.html

^^ Nope, China backed Cambodia whilst Russia backed Vietnam. All 4 were Commies back then... Russia and China never trusted each other. After WWII, Russia purposely guaranteed the independence of Mongolia as a buffer state against the Chinese.

How about having defense ties with Russia? :D After all, Russia is still a power and Russian weapons tend to be less costly but still effective... Everyone's building up their Fleets and so should we. After all, we are an archipelago and still have many fringe islands to protect... She can also provide a counterweight to China.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110327/163230100.html

Missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russian Pacific Fleet in 2013 -Navy
11:22 27/03/2011

http://en.rian.ru/images/16323/01/163230141.jpg

The Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2013 after repairs, a high-placed official of the Russian Navy said on Sunday.

"In two years, the cruiser may be transferred from Severomorsk to Vladivostok to reinforce the grouping of the Pacific Fleet's surface ships," the admiral said, adding that the Navy's main headquarters was considering this possibility, although a final decision had not yet been made.

The Marshal Ustinov, a Slava-class missile cruiser, was launched in 1982 and commissioned with the Russian Northern Fleet in 1986.

"Now the cruiser is preparing for medium repairs in the Northern Fleet," the admiral said, adding that the cruiser's transfer to the Russian Far East was due to the quick ageing of the Pacific Fleet's warships and the need for this kind of ships to support the combat stability of the grouping of the fleet's strategic and multipurpose nuclear submarines.

The Marshal Ustinov cruiser has been designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-air and ASW capability. It is fitted with sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox nuclear-capable supersonic anti-ship missiles, which are mounted in four pairs on either side of the superstructure.

In addition, the cruiser reportedly carries 64 SA-N-6 Grumble long-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and 40 SA-N-4 Gecko short-range SAMs.

NATO experts had dubbed Russian combat ships of this class "the killer of aircraft carriers," as it can carry 1,000 kg of high-explosives, or a tactical nuclear warhead, out to a range of 300 nautical miles.

MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti)

:cool:

actually, i'm open to that idea, even if it's just on the procurement level. we could consider buying older but still reliable russian mig fighter jets. basically with the same capabilities with their american counterparts for a cheaper price!:D

besides, a defense contract and ties with the russians is indeed a good counterpoint to china. the latter already has to deal with the fact that we have ties with the US.

actually, i'm open to that idea, even if it's just on the procurement level. we could consider buying older but still reliable russian mig fighter jets. basically with the same capabilities with their american counterparts for a cheaper price!:D

besides, a defense contract and ties with the russians is indeed a good counterpoint to china. the latter already has to deal with the fact that we have ties with the US.

Quite old but comments are still being updated...

Russian military aircraft on sale for general public (http://www.military-heat.com/19/russian-military-aircraft-sale-general-public/)

Ever wanted to pilot a russian jet fighter or have your very own russian attack helicopter? Nowadays all you need to do that is have a little bit of cash and your dream just might come true. If you have anything between 10k $ and 5 million $ you can buy anything from a MiG-21 interceptor to the world famous Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. There are dozens of ex-military aircraft for sale.

So just what exactly can you buy and for just how much?If your capital is 10k-100k $ you can buy a Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter or some of the early MiG jet fighters like the MiG-17 or even the supersonic MiG-21.If however you want to buy something a little bit more special you can always go for the Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter which will make you pull out of your wallet between 150k-800k $.If you are a millionaire and life seems very boring you can always get yourself hooked up with a MiG-29.

Currently there is one for sale in the Ukraine for the sum of US$ 1,500,000. And of course if you really really want the best of the best you can always buy the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, one of the world’s most famous jet. What’s the price tag for such a baby? Anywhere between 2,000,000 and 15,000,000 US$.Fantastic!

1. The Mi-8 transport helicopter 10,000-1,000,000 US$
2. The MiG-21 supersonic interceptor for 50,000-200,000 US$
3. The Sukhoi Su-27 one of the most advanced jet fighters in the world on sale for 2,000,000-15,000,000 US$

Interesting: China was rebuffed by East Timor when it offered the latter free radar installation. East Timor thought that the radar installation will just be used by the Chinese as a spy base (since the China insisted that it will be staffed by Chinese personnel:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/09/wikileaks_east_timor/

Quite old but comments are still being updated...

Russian military aircraft on sale for general public (http://www.military-heat.com/19/russian-military-aircraft-sale-general-public/)



1. The Mi-8 transport helicopter 10,000-1,000,000 US$
2. The MiG-21 supersonic interceptor for 50,000-200,000 US$
3. The Sukhoi Su-27 one of the most advanced jet fighters in the world on sale for 2,000,000-15,000,000 US$

that mig 21 is much cheaper than the american f 16 which costs between $14-$16M to buy. the SU-27's maneuverability is amazing. if we're talking about a purely interceptor class, that's even way cheaper than the f 15 with a price range of $26M-$29M.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/10/11/aquino-insists-reed-bank-belongs-philippines

President Aquino stressed that Reed Bank located west of Palawan near the Spratlys
belongs to the Philippines and that a decision to dispatch Philippine Coast Guard vessels
in the area in March was meant to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“Yung atin pong isla na ang tawag ay Reed Bank, 80 kilometers from Palawan—sa
UNCLOS po may tinawag na exclusive economic zone na 200 kilometers. Maliwanag po,
saklaw natin at atin po itong Reed Bank na ito. Yan po ay nasa may Spratlys,” Aquino
said in an adlib during his speech at the 112th anniversary of the Commission on Audit
to drive home the point that reforms are underway to rehabilitate the government’s
limited resources.

Aquino related an incident in March that when another country sent two of its coast
guard vessels to drive away a Philippine vessel that is exploring oil and natural gas in
the area, the Philippine Coast Guard dispatched two vessels to secure the Philippine
vessel and allowed it to continue its project. But only Philippine Coast Guard vessel
made it to the site. Aquino said the country must protect its sovereignty.

“Natural, kailangan natin pangalagaan at paninidigan ang ating sovereignty. Inatasan
natin ang Coast Guard [pero] hindi ho armadong sasakyan na tumungo doon at
siguraduhin na malayo sa kapahamakan itong sasakyan na nage-explore doon sa
banda ng Reed Bank…"

“Awa ng Diyos, nagpadala ang Coast Guard natin ng dalawang sasakyang pandagat,
ang umabot doon isa. Problema ho kasi, napakaluma na ng sasakyang pandagat.
At ang Coast Guard natin nagtitiis; yung taumbayan, sabi nga, wala na hong justice,
just tiis. Yan ho ang binabago natin,” Aquino said.
[/quote]


by the way these were the Charts (maps) of Kalayaan Islands Group, the Philippine's
200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone, Ree Bank, and the province of Palawan.



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/KIGandreedbank800x524.jpg

Reed Bank (Recto Bank) is well inside the Philippine's 200 miles
Exclusive Economic Zone as define by UN Conference on Law of Sea.


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/1KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundNorthwestpart-withcaption.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/2KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundNortheastpart.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/2kigandreedbank.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/reedbank-kalayaangroup.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/reedbankd.jpg

May utak at makabayan din pala si Noy, hindi katulad ng mga taksil sa bayan na si Gloria and Miriam, ang dalawa sa mga sponsors and bayaran ng PRC, kaya nag devise sila ng kuno ay "regime of islands" - lutong macao china ang ginawa nila sa Philippine Baseline Law. Ngayon ay lalung naging
masiba ang china sa pag claim ng Philippine territories and Philippine's 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone sa South China Sea.

PNoy talk about the Reed Bank @3:50
bLchNSk28RE

Yep talagang luma na ang PN vessels so mr president, do something about it! More money could be saved if you change the government system and abolish the congress or the pork barrels!

^^ Hear! hear! :D
(did you mean that change in government system? from presidential to parliamentary like Canada and UK? :lol: j/k)

Interesting: China was rebuffed by East Timor when it offered the latter free radar installation. East Timor thought that the radar installation will just be used by the Chinese as a spy base (since the China insisted that it will be staffed by Chinese personnel:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/09/wikileaks_east_timor/

:lol: i guess their Deputy PM Jose Guterres and Pres. Ramos Horta had been tipped off by their cousins here Fidel and Merceditas? :lol: j/k good job chicos! :D now if we could only hasten their accession to ASEAN and EAGA and increase our partnership with them, they should be well under our influence and not China's. how about a revival of the UNTA-ET mission and our AFP's involvement in securing Timor security during its transition to independence? a VFA with them doesn't sound too bad huh, specially now that we need more allies.

this is the direct link :

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/12/23/2003393815/2


can you post here the direct link as i couldnt find the article in the website you provided. i wanted to know if this news was recent and if Taiwan is indeed still actively pursuing its retarded claim over Batanes. :lol:

Dec. 2007? that wasnt too far back then which means there really is a looming threat here by Taiwan. :ohno: have we got any more recent articles there suggestive of this insane claim over our Batanes? especially after that diplomatic standoff that followed the deportation incident involving their criminals? if im not mistaken, Taiwan also claims our Scarborough Shoal off Zambales, and parts of Kalayaan as well..

Actually China is claiming almost the whole south china sea from James Shoals in Latitude 4 degrees North up to near Palawan coast and up to Scarborough Shoal.

Reed Bank is just one of their testing or they were exploring if the Philippines will seriously react.


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/1chineseclaiminsouthchinasea.jpg
Map showing the limit of their claims which is hugging the coast of Sarawak, Sabah, Palawan and up to Scarborough Reef.



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/sjamesshoal.jpg



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/ScarboroughtoSpratly.jpg


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/scarboroughx.jpg



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/scarboroughreef.jpg



http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/2chineseclaiom9-dash.jpg

http://www.southchinasea.org/docs/Li%20and%20Li-The%20Dotted%20Line%20on%20the%20Map.pdf


The Dotted Line on the Chinese Map of the South China Sea: A Note

In 1947, the then-Chinese government produced The Location Map of the South China Sea Islands (Nanhai zhudao weizhi tu, in Chinese). A discontinuous dotted line was on this map. This contribution looks at both the history of the creation of the dotted line and the opinions that have been expressed concerning the juridical status of the dotted line. Special attention is given to the historic title assertion.

One of the continuing uncertainties impacting upon the island and ocean area sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea is the “dotted line” found on Chinese maps dating back to 1947. The dotted line is usually referred to as the “nine-dotted line” (since it is composed of nine dashes) or the “U-shaped line” in the South China Sea since this reflects the shape of the dotted line (see Figure 1). The dotted line encloses the main island features of the South China Sea: the Pratas Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank, and the Spratly Islands. The dotted line also captures James Shoal which is as far south as 4 degrees north latitude.


Pls read more at the below web link :

http://www.southchinasea.org/docs/Li%20and%20Li-The%20Dotted%20Line%20on%20the%20Map.pdf

^^ that's unacceptable. Why, even an elementary grade kid can see that those islands are right next door to Palawan. Contiguity is already accepted at the ICJ, plus if we do have some settlers there for the "exercise of sovereignty".

The real trouble is, those northerners are playing a dangerous game, the politics of power, or achieved thru power, in this case military.

Even since the times of the ancients, Admiral Zheng He, they had always been fascinated with travels over the South China Sea then on to Ceylon, the Middle East and Africa. They now have a naval base at Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and there are many Chinese companies exploring Africa and the Middle East for resources... if they control the whole South China Sea + those islands north of Batanes, why everyone in Asia inc. Japan & the 2 Koreas will be at their mercy. They control the routes of the oil tankers and the supply of oil.actually, i'm open to that idea, even if it's just on the procurement level. we could consider buying older but still reliable russian mig fighter jets. basically with the same capabilities with their american counterparts for a cheaper price!:D

besides, a defense contract and ties with the russians is indeed a good counterpoint to china. the latter already has to deal with the fact that we have ties with the US. The red dragon is awakening and flexing its tail in the South China Sea. What other viable and doable options do we have, amigo? coz we really need to do something fast about the decrepit state of the PAF's equipment

If China wants to play history on the South China sea, no other nations, colonizers, kingdoms has ever claimed 80% of the sea except for the modern-day communist China. For thousands of years, it has remained a free sea. Not even the European colonizers dared to tell them the sea is theirs!

I think our government should take the exercise of sovereignty of the islands seriously. Identify the livable islands and invest on infrastructure and send people there. Maybe, some squatters in urban areas could be relocated there :lol:

I'm not sure, but I don't think that Admiral Zheng He even dared claim that the sea belonged to the Middle Kingdom(Ming Dynasty, I think?). They just wanted expanded trade and tell the world of their dynasty.

Interesting: China was rebuffed by East Timor when it offered the latter free radar installation. East Timor thought that the radar installation will just be used by the Chinese as a spy base (since the China insisted that it will be staffed by Chinese personnel:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/09/wikileaks_east_timor/

What is China's interest in East Timor, eh? It is poor (not that I am mocking on them but they're fresh off their independence and civil war)..



and it is small.. :lol:

THinking of it, buti di talaga natuloy yung ZTE-NBN deal...coz China might have used it to gather sensitive information about the country and use it against us. Backstabbing devils

If ever magkaroon ng ang US at China ng katulad noon sa Russia na "cold war" ano kaya ang tawag dito? "Hot War"?:)

^^ Hot war is direct confrontation. Cold war through proxies.

Kung magkaroon man ng tension sa US at China, malamang cold war part 2. At hindi mahirap tukuyin ang magiging proxy ng dalawang yan


Time to evaculate the islands! Kung puede irelocate ang Pilipinas sa south ng Australia para iwasan ang maging proxy :lol:

Agree ako at tama si Misuari ang Malaysia-ang bantay salakay nating "kaibigan!:bash::bash:

Pero hindi lang yon ang mahirap pati Singapore.:bash::bash:



Malaysia says Singaporean helped Mindanao rebels
:bash::bash:

Associated Press
First Posted 14:13:00 05/10/2011


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysian police said they have arrested a Singaporean businessman suspected of channeling funds to southern Philippine militants.

National police Chief Ismail Omar said Abdul Majid Kunji Mohamad was arrested under a law that allows indefinite detention without trial of people regarded as security threats.

Ismail said Monday the man is believed to have provided funds and logistical assistance to militants in Mindanao. He did not elaborate.

The southern Philippines is home to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has fought for Muslim self rule but is in negotiations with the government. Other insurgents include the Abu Sayyaf group that is notorious for kidnappings and Indonesian militants linked to regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

^^ Watak watak talaga ang Southeast Asia.Very tribal ang mentality :lol:

Andyan na nga yung economic, political at military threat na galing sa hilaga tapos ganyan pa.

that mig 21 is much cheaper than the american f 16 which costs between $14-$16M to buy. the SU-27's maneuverability is amazing. if we're talking about a purely interceptor class, that's even way cheaper than the f 15 with a price range of $26M-$29M.

Russian Military Hardware is always cheaper than the Americans that's why anyone can have access to it.

^^ Watak watak talaga ang Southeast Asia.Very tribal ang mentality :lol:

Andyan na nga yung economic, political at military threat na galing sa hilaga tapos ganyan pa.

one word: Non-Intervention. :lol:
the failure of the organization and Southeast Asia as a whole is attributed to this weak policy and mantra by ASEAN. its kind of scary when you think of the integration plans ahead, like the asean exchange and common currency, i dont know how its all gonna work without intervention of any form :D

AFP not worried of China’s plans in Spratlys
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 05/10/2011 5:58 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban said he is not worried of China’s plans to deploy more Navy ships to the South China Sea.

He said this will not be taken as a form of aggression for as long as “they stay in the internal waters and they do not enter our territory.”

China is supposedly deploying 36 ships in the next 5 years to strengthen claims over the Spratly Islands.

Other countries are also claiming parts of the Spratly Islands, which is situated in the area.

"I think they will be true to their work in abiding by the Code of Conduct of parties in the South China Sea. In so far as we are concerned, we will continuously conduct maritime patrols within our territory," said Oban.

The Code of Conduct discourages claimant countries from building more military structures in occupied islands. Claimants are also encouraged to pursue cases through diplomatic channels.

The AFP maintains only a meager number of assets and troops there. The largest can be found in the Pagasa Island, which is about 285 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City - home of the military 's Western Command (Wescom).

The Philippine Navy earlier said it is planning to deploy to the Wescom jurisdiction a Hamilton class ship, due for arrival from the United States in August.

President Benigno Aquino III has already earmarked P11.9 billion for the acquisition of military hardware needed in the protection of the country's maritime resources.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/10/11/afp-not-worried-china%E2%80%99s-plans-spratlys

Gusto ng Malaysia na pag-awayin ang Pilipinas and Singapore...Pero sa totoo lang ay sila ang nagsusuporta sa mga rebelde sa Pilipinas and Thailand. Inggit and takot lang sila sa Singapore. Lahat yata ng bansa dito sa SEA ay may galit sa Malaysia.

one word: Non-Intervention. :lol:
the failure of the organization and Southeast Asia as a whole is attributed to this weak policy and mantra by ASEAN. its kind of scary when you think of the integration plans ahead, like the asean exchange and common currency, i dont know how its all gonna work without intervention of any form :D


wag masyado kampande ang government. amamaya may spy plane na rin ang china :ohno: Buti sana kung gumagana pa yung artillery sa Corregidor

In the coming month China will sent more Naval vessel in the Spratly Group of islands particularly in the Philippine-held Kalayaan Islands and Reed Bank where we have oil exploration.

Our country's response was to sent 2 small Philippine Coast Guard vessel to Reed Bank to face the Chinese Navy. It will be like the fight betweenDavid and Goliath. We must do something to fight this immediate threat of PRC agressive actions.

First : Our country should immediately arrange a military alliance with Vietnam, Russia, and India who can be a good counterweight against Chinese hegemonism in Asia. We cannot rely on the
U.S.A. as they will help the Philippines if they think it is in their geo-political interest. Our 1947 military treaty with the U.S. is not even approved by US Congress.

Second: Natinonalist groups from the left and right of the political spectrum like BAYAN, GABRIELA, KMU, rightist MAGDALO, etc should join forces and held a massive rally against the Chinese Embassy in Manila and in Chinese Consulate and in other Philippine cities. These were only immediate temporary measures and the best way is to modernize and strenghten our Armed Forces, like the city-state of Singapore.

We should support the government in the fight against future chinese agression whether we are pro or against this present Pnoy government. Our country’s territorial integrity and future depends on all nationalistic Pinoy of whatever political groups or ideology. AMEN

di sasama ang mga local commies kasi galing China ang funding nila

BAYAN MUNA, KMU, GABRIELA are against china? ? Wow is that for real?

Kapag nabalitaan nila ng mga Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak Pawis etc.. ang mga bagong gamit ng AFP ay siguradong welga ulit mga yan lalo na mga studyante sa UP.

Gabriela, and company protesting in front of the Chinese embassy is suntok sa buwan. :lol: It is forbidden in their doctrine to go against China.

Baka magkaroon pa ng Heroes welcome para sa mga chinese kapag ang bayan Muna, Gabriela and company ang tatanungin. Im sure yung color blue sa flag natin ay gusto nila gawing red.

Gabriela, and company protesting in front of the Chinese embassy is suntok sa buwan. :lol: It is forbidden in their doctrine to go against China.

i had to do some google search just to be sure hehe. Guess what guys? those commie freaks are acually on our side, at least based on Bayan Muna's actions and stance regarding the controversial baseline law and Spratlys deal by Arroyo.

PGMA to sign baselines bill amid opposition
"“The questionable ratification by the Lower House of the bicameral conference committee version of the Philippine baselines bill was another blow to the sovereignty of the country.”

http://archives.manilatimes.net/national/2009/feb/19/yehey/metro/20090219met2.html

House Resolution No. 496 filed by Bayan Muna
"Directing the Commitees to investigate the Spratlys Deal entered into by Arroyo with China that sells out Philippine Interests and Sovereignty in exchange for NBN-ZTE."

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:M7dsW2xx-OUJ:www.bayanmuna.net/n/data/files/HR%2520496%2520-%2520On%2520the%2520Supposed%2520Spratly%2520Deal%2520Entered%2520Into%2520by%2520the%2520Arroyo%2520Government%2520with%2520China%2520that%2520Sells%2520Out%2520Philippine%2520Interests%2520and%2520Sovereignty%2520in%2520Exchange%2520for%2520Overpriced%2520Loans%2520Includes%2520NBN-ZTE%2520Deal,%2520North%2520Rail%2520and%2520South%2520Rail%2520Projects,%2520Cyber%2520Ed%2520Project.pdf+%22bayan+muna%22+spratlys&hl=tl&gl=ph&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiM1-CulTH2LZ3XjFzXGqEK6bbWWYw6bXoniMsOdnPf6O9m4HuRJZrHqm8UPURI0fP8nbRvvzKoDOAnteOxUrEgKQ8FFb9LYfKUS9mATDYRBvqU1nw0Pu9XgiQR7mxW0YtYQvmr&sig=AHIEtbSTb0odxl08jgLn8ulFhIL3FPQ-hA


Hmm, so they are against both the US and China.. you think its Kim Jong Il they actually owe their allegiance to? :lol::lol: