Aquino inspects police capabilities in hostage-taking exercise
To make sure that our security forces will be ready in time of crisis situations, keeping in mind the unfortunate botched rescue attempt in the hostage-taking incident last August 23, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday visited Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig city to inspect a simulated hostage taking demonstrating by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF).
The elite unit of the PNP applying a well planned approach demonstrated to the chief executive how to effectively assault a bus as swift as possible to subdue a hostage taker and rescue his victims.
The SAF rapid deployment force showed three options to gain access to the bus using frame charges to blast windows, an APC tank, ladders and other emergency equipment.
In an ambush interview, the President said that while he was pleased with the well planned and executed response to retake the bus he was disappointed why such capabilities were not used in the recent hostage situation.
“This was what I expected, the President said, adding “I think you saw how organize they were in demonstrating what they were supposed to do.”
The President also said that efforts were underway to further enhance the needs of our security forces.
After the demonstration the President inspected high calibre weapons such as assault and precision rifles, as well as recently purchased speed boats that the SAF will use in combat situations.
Joining the President in the exercise were Police Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, SAF acting director Catalino Cuy, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Hermino Coloma, Secretary Ramon Carandang and Under Secretary Manolo Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. (PCOO)
Aquino to upgrade equipment of PNP, AFP elite forces
SANGLEY POINT, CAVITE – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday vowed to upgrade the equipment of the police and military services to improve their capabilities in the fight against lawlessness.
In a visit to the Sangley Point Naval base here, the President said that acquiring modern equipments for the uniformed personnel is necessary to boost their morale.
“A lot of these items are not impossible to get. They must be given necessary tools dahil lumang luma na ang kanilang gamit. Huwag mong ipadadala ang sundalo mo sa bakbakan na wala namang kagamitan (Don’t let them fight without the necessary equipment)”
The President’s visit here is part of his tour of military facilities to observe the anti-terrorist capabilities of the men in uniform.
He first went to the PNP Special Action Force in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City Thursday before proceeding to the Sangley Point facility of the Philippine Navy in this city.
In an ambush interview after the demonstration, the President expressed elation over the capability and skills of the Naval elite force in both sea and land encounters.
“I think you’ve seen how capable our people are,” the President told reporters when asked if he is satisfied with the exercise.
After the demonstration, the President participated in the traditional "boodle fight" with the Navy and Marines.
Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Atty. Edgard Arevalo said the objective of the joint demonstration of the Navy Special Operations Group and Marines reconnaissance force is to show to the President and to the Filipino people their readiness and competence to protect the country from terrorism.
He said the exercise is in response to the President’s directive, to both AFP and PNP, to create an elite unit capable to combat urban and rural terror threat. (PCOO)
Aquino wants win-win solution to PAL row
SANGLEY POINT, Cavite City – President Benigno S. Aquino III today renewed his appeal to officials and employees of Philippine Airlines to go to the bargaining table and find a win-win solution to the row that has affected the country’s airline and tourism industry.
The President issued the directive a day after the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, which boasts of a membership of about 1,600, filed a notice of strike at the Department of Labor and Employment.
The move comes on the heels of a serious disruption in PAL flights two weeks ago when some 25 of the airline’s pilots abandoned their jobs to seek greener pastures abroad. The move was seen by PAL management as a breach of contract.
"I appeal to both sides, both the labor and the management, to go to the bargaining table with the end in view of really achieving that agreement because at the end of the day I guarantee you, we will not sacrifice the public interest,“ he said. “If I have to choose between the PAL and the Filipino people, I think the choice is obvious. So I want to remind them of that."
To help solve the crisis, the President ordered Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Transportation and Communication to help ensure that PAL and its attendants would reach a favorable agreement.
The President also said the possibility of adopting an open skies policy is now being considered by the government should the impasse continue.
“If it is necessary we will do it to minimize disruption to the riding public," he said.
In preparation for the possible strike of the flight attendants, the Civil Aviation Board, according to the Chief Executive has already issued a notice to other airlines that they will be given potential slots should a disruption occur. (PCOO)
Global peso bond float a vote of confidence for Aquino--Purisima
The resounding success of the first-ever global peso bond float on Friday was attributed to the global financial markets’ landslide vote of confidence in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s leadership, economic agenda, and the sound macro-economic fundamentals of the country.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the government raised $1 billion (P44.1 billion) in the maiden issue of 10-year, peso-denominated global bonds.
The bonds, which had a yield of five percent, attracted bids over 13 times the offer.
“We issued $1 billion worth and the demand was for $13.3 billion or 13 times over subscribed, “ Purisima said.
The peso global bond is expected to enhance the government’s debt investor profile while paving the way for greater participation by offshore investors in the Philippines capital markets.
“The bond offering shows that the Philippine peso is now being accepted as an overseas bond. Now, we can lessen the issuance of dollar bonds in the future," Purisima added.
He disclosed that orders for the securities came from the United States, Europe and Asia.
The Aquino Administration embarked on the sale of the peso global bonds as part of the government’s plan to decrease debts denominated in foreign currencies thereby reduce foreign exchange risks. (PCOO)
Downpour fails to stop Aquino’s inspection at army camp
FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija—Dark clouds and a heavy downpour enveloped the 57,000 hectare Army camp here Friday but these did not stop President Benigno S. Aquino III from his scheduled inspection of the attack and anti-terrorism capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Special Operations Command here.
The field demonstration came on the eve of the 9th anniversary of the infamous Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City’s Twin Towers, which jolted the whole world on the possible breaches to homeland security and peace.
But the AFP claimed it had been training its men in handling complicated hostage situations and terrorist attacks long before the 9-11 attacks, providing its men with newer skills and armed technologies to better equip them in handling various types of security threats.
The Presidential chopper landed at the 7th Infantry Division headquarters where President Aquino was received at Fernandez Hill by Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz,, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, MGen. Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr., Commanding General of the Northern Luzon Command; MGen. Irineo Espino, Commander of the 7ID, Brig. Gen. Roberto Morales, Commander of Special Operations Command, BGen. Noel Coballes, Commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and Col. Aminkadra Undug, Commander of Special Forces Regiment Airborne.
The President was briefed by Col. Ronnie Evangelista, Commanding Officer of the Light Reaction Battalion on the sniper capability demonstration involving a squad of nine armed men, two of them in jungle camouflage uniforms, who each were ordered to fire from a distance of 250 meters. They were able to successfully down all stationary and moving targets.
The President then walked to the Shoot House, 200 meters away from Fernandez Hill, to view the various state of the art equipment and military hardware that are now being used in the different camps and installations in the country.
After that, President Aquino and party which included Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Sonny Coloma donned protective gears for a view deck and catwalk observation of a joint hostage rescue operations conducted by joint forces of the Light Reaction Command, K9 unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, PNP-Special Action Force and the Philippine Air Force Operations Wing.
From the Shoot House, the President went to the SMART facility (Simulated, Moving, Automated Random Target) where he got to try his shooting power, using his own guns for random shooting.
He capped his two-hour visit in this camp with a visit to the former detention camp of his father, Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. and his dad’s fellow detainee, former Senator Jose W. Diokno.
The President’s last stop was at the SOCOM headquarters’ Tomb of Unknown Soldiers, where he laid a wreath before motoring to the helipad to board his chopper back to Manila. (PCOO)
