A photo of the CCG vessel with bow number 5205 was taken by a crew member ofBRP Malapascua on Feb. 6, 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG) MANILA - A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel has directed a military-grade laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship on a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy (PN) in Ayungin Shoal at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Feb. 6. In a statement on Monday, the PCG said the CCG vessel with bow number 5205 used the laser towards BRP Malapascua, "causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge." "The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards from the vessel's starboard quarter," it said. The incident occurred while BRP Malapascua was about 10 nautical miles (NM) from Ayungin Shoal and about 4 nm of the ship's dead ahead maneuvering from the portside heading starboard side. In response, the BRP Malapascua altered its course from Ayungin Shoal and instead went towards Lawak Isla
(File photo) MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged all candidates in the May 9 polls to immediately report to them threats by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA). "Hindi natin maiwasan na itong communist terorist group ay pwedeng magsamantala, ang appeal natin sa mga kababayan natin lalo na yung mga kandidato kung merong banta sa inyo na mga election-related incident nandito po kami para tulungan kayo (Instances of communist terrorist group taking advantage of the elections (through their various extortion schemes) cannot be avoided. Our appeal to our countrymen, specially our candidates is that if there is threat against them, or any election-related threat, we are here to help them)," said Army Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP spokesperson, in a radio interview late Sunday. Communist terrorist scams during the election period include the so-called permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win where candidates are being made to p
TO THE RESCUE. Troops from the disaster response and rescue team of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao assist in the conduct of preemptive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas in Surigao City on Thursday (Dec. 16, 2021). Military units are now conducting disaster response operations in areas battered by Typhoon Odette. (Photo courtesy of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao) MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said its units are now conducting disaster response operations in areas badly hit by Typhoon Odette. This is being done in close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), AFP spokesperson, Army Col. Ramon Zagala, said. "In close coordination with the NDRRMC, our disaster response operations are ongoing in areas that were and will be affected by Typhoon Odette. These include emergency preemptive evacuations, search and rescue, clearing, and transport assistance for the delivery of relief goods," Zagala
AFP spokesperson, Col. Ramon Zagala (File photo) MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it has closed 15 out of the 20 bank accounts reported as unauthorized by the Commission on Audit (COA) but it expressed hope that it will be allowed to retain the remaining five, saying these are needed for essential purposes. In a statement late Sunday, AFP spokesperson, Col. Ramon Zagala identified the retained bank accounts and the reason for doing so. "(First is) Account Number 00-140-102888-6 of UCPB (United Coconut Planters Bank). This account is for payment of procurement under the AFP Modernization Program. There are several multi-year contracts being serviced by this account," he added. Zagala said closing this account now will jeopardize the payment schedule for these contracts. "We have requested the Permanent Committee to retain this account until the procurement it is supporting is completed," he added. Established in 1987, the Permanent Committee mo