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(File photo) MANILA - The recent attack by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) insurgents against soldiers in Northern Samar are part of their efforts to project strength through terror in a bid to force the government to return to the negotiating table. "The violent actions of the CPP-NPA are expected. They are meant to strengthen the CPP's hold on their dwindling and demoralized fighters and increase the pressure to the government to resume the peace talk according to their terms. They will not succeed in their underhanded scheme," said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acting spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, in a message to reporters Wednesday. This came after a soldier from the 20th Infantry Battalion was killed while five others were wounded after the NPAs detonated anti-personnel mines in the remote Osang village in Catubig, Northern Samar on Tuesday. The fatality and injured soldiers were among the 24 troopers patrolling the ....
Outgoing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) and incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos (left) (Photo courtesy of Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the appointment of Dr. Clarita Carlos as the incoming National Security Adviser is actually a homecoming of sorts as she served as a president of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). "Her appointment is actually like a homecoming to the Department since she previously served as the 16th President of the National Defense College of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. Known for being feisty and media savvy, she holds the distinction of being the first and only female civilian to lead the higher institution for national defense and security," Lorenzana said in his Facebook post over the weekend. Lorenzana added that he had a pleasant and insightful chat with Carlos a few days ago and said the DND is happy ....
(File photo) MANILA - Filipino jet fighter pilots have been honing their combat skills in local and foreign training exercises hosted by military allies of the country. Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano made this remark when asked what is being done to sharpen the combat skills, particularly those related to air combat of the country's jet fighter pilots. "We have been honing our skills in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat with exercises such as Talon Vision, Bilateral Air Contingent Exercise Philippines (BACE-P), Balikatan, and soon the Cope Thunder Philippines will be back in the country," he added in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Sunday. These exercises are carried out annually by Filipino and American forces. Mariano also said the PAF, through the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 5th Fighter Wing, also has a very robust training syllabus for Filipino fighter pilots. '"We have a very robust training syllabus done b ....
1st Lt. Jul Laiza Mae Camposano-Beran (Photo courtesy of PAF) MANILA - A Filipina has qualified to join the ranks of the country's elite jet fighter pilots, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced on Thursday. PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said 1st Lt. Jul Laiza Mae B. Camposano-Beran qualified to fly into combat using the SIAI-Marchetti AS-211 light jet combat aircraft, which the PAF also uses in attack and surveillance missions. "The PAF made history (by) having its own, first-ever female fighter pilot on March 30, 2022 from the 5th Fighter Wing at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga. 1st Lt. Jul Laiza Mae B. Camposano-Beran was checked out as the first female AS-211 combat mission ready pilot and wingman," he added. Mariano said Camposano-Beran first flew alone or went "solo" in the AS-211 on December 5, 2020. "May (she had) 150 plus hours na siya sa (in flying the) AS-211," he added in a message to the Philippine News Agency. Mariano sa ....
Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia (Screengrab from PTV) MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting to get the report from its law department on Wednesday on the possible civil and criminal liability of its service provider Smartmatic International following allegations of a security breach. "We instructed our law department, they will submit their report until tomorrow (Wednesday) on what is the criminal and civil liability that our service provider can face, if any. They should be responsible enough to deal with what is stated in the contract," said Commissioner George Garcia in a press briefing after the peace covenant signing among the poll body, the police, and the military for clean and peaceful polls in Catbalogan, Samar on Tuesday. He added that they are also waiting for the report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the matter. "We asked if we could speed up a little, they promised us that they would be calling two or three pe ....