On rescue of 2 abducted Coast Guard personnel in Sulu

 

Escaped hostage Philippine coast guard Seaman First Class (SN1) Rod Pagaling, center, is escorted inside a military camp in Jolo, Sulu province, southern Philippines Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015. Two Philippine coast guard personnel, Pagaling and Gringo Villaruz who were threatened with beheading escaped from their Abu Sayyaf extremist captors when hundreds of troops stormed the militants' jungle base in the country's south, military officials said Thursday. Photo: Nickee Butlangan, AP  

Photo and Text Credit to: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/crime/article/2-Filipino-coast-guard-men-escape-from-Abu-Sayyaf-6455204.php#photo-8492835 

The two (2) Coast Guard personnel who were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Barangay Aliguay, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte last May 4, 2015 were successfully rescued in Sulu by personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) today (August 20). 

SN2 Gringo Villaruz was found at the vicinity of Buansa, Indanan, Sulu at around 7 a.m. while SN1 Rod Pagaling was found around the same area an hour later. The coast guard personnel escaped from their captors after a series of encounters in Sulu, Basilan and Bukidnon last August 18 and 19. 

Villaruz and Pagaling were abducted by ASG with Rodolfo Buligao, barangay captain of Aliguay, last May 4. Buligao’s body was found last August 11 in Barangay Laum Maimbung in Maimbung, Sulu after he was mercilessly beheaded when their abductors’ demands were not met. 

The AFP is continuously conducting focused military operations which resulted to the series of encounters with members of New People’s Army (NPA) and ASG within the past two (2) days. 

Last August 18 at around 4:14 p.m., the 1^st Special Forces Battalion, led by Captain Balatbat, encountered NPAs in Barangay Mendiz, Pangantucan, Bukidnon which resulted to the wounding of 2LT Balangcod and PFC Rubante and recovery of an AK47. 

In August 19, PFC Paquit, cousin of Medal of Valor awardee PFC Paquit who was among the heroes of Zamboanga Siege last 2013, was killed in action after a group of 20 ASG members led by Radzmil Janatol encountered the Scout Ranger Company camp in Sitio Jungle Base, Barangay Baiwas Sumisip, Basilan at around12 noon. 

Also in August 19, fifteen (15) were killed while five (5) high powered firearms, a substance believed to be “shabu” and an improvised explosive device (IED) were recovered in Sitio Marang, Barangay Buansa, Indanan, Sulu after more or less 200 ASGs engaged the 1^st Scout Ranger Battalion. Five (5) bodies, believed to be members of ASG, were recovered in the area. 

General Hernando DCA Iriberri, Chief of Staff AFP, reminded all our troops to make their areas of responsibility hostile to all threat groups. 

In light of the bombing in Bangkok, Thailand last August 18 where 22 were killed in a tourist spot, Iriberri also ordered our troops to be more vigilant in protecting the security and safety of the communities under their areas of responsibility.  

Source: PAOAFP 

PMA Entrance Examination 2015

PRESS STATEMENT

           

            The Philippine Military Academy will be conducting the PMA Entrance Examination on August 02, 2015 in thirty-seven (37) examination centers all through-out the country. The PMA Entrance Exam is the first stage in the selection process for cadetship in the premier leadership training school in the country.

NR	CODE	EXAM AREA	VENUE
1	001	Manila	Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila
2	003	Quezon City	Ramon Magsaysay High School (Cubao)
3	011	Baguio	Philippine Military Academy
4	013	Laoag City	Northwestern University
5	015	Dagupan City	University of Pangasinan – PHINMA
6	016	Bontoc, Mt Province	Mt. Province Gen Compre High School
7	021	Bayombong, Nueva Viz	Nueva Viscaya State University (Bayongbong Campus)
8	023	Tuguegarao City	Cagayan National High School
9	032	Cabanatuan City	Araulio University
10	034	Tarlac City	Tarlac State University
11	036	City of San Fernando	Pampanga High School
12	041	Calapan City	Divine World College
13	042	Lipa City	Fernando Air Base
14	043	Puerto Princesa City	Holy Trinity University
15	044	Lucena City	Quezon National High School
16	051	Legaspi City	NAVFORSOL, Rawis
17	052	Naga City	University of Nueva Caceres
18	061	Bacolod City	West Negros University
19	062	Iloilo City	Iloilo National High School, La Paz
20	063	Kalibo, Aklan	Northwestern University
21	071	Cebu City	Southwestern University
22	072	Dumaguete City	Negros Oriental State University
23	073	Tagbilaran City	Holy Name University
24	081	Catbalogan City	Samar State University, Mercedes Campus
25	083	Tacloban City	Eastern Visayas State College
26	094	Zamboanga City	Western Mindanao Command
27	101	Butuan City	Agusan National University
28	102	Cagayan De Oro City	Camp Evangelista Gymnasium, 4ID PA
29	103	Ozamis City	Misamis University
30	111	Davao City	University of Mindanao
31	112	General Santos City	Mindanao Polytechnic College
32	115	Tacurong City	City Gymnasium, Tacurong City
33	121	Iligan City	Iligan City National High School
34	122	Cotabato City	6ID Camp (Kampilan) PA
35	126	Bongao, Tawi-Tawi	MSU Bongao Campus (Prep High)
36		Mati City
37		Olongapo City

            Being a PMA cadet gives an individual a noble privilege in serving the country. One is able to avail of a free college education with a well-rounded curriculum, as well as, receive monthly pay and allowances. After graduating from the Academy, one is guaranteed a progressive career as an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

            Requirements for admission in the Philippine Military Academy are the following: at least 5’0 inches, both for male and female, natural-born Filipino citizen, physically fit and of good moral character, single and has never been married, at least high school graduate, no administrative/criminal case, must pass the PMAEE, and should have been born from April 01, 1994 to April 01, 1999.

            Addressing one of the major issues that usually deters interested applicants from entering the Academy, PMA has made a firm stand on its policy against maltreatment in the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP). PMA advocates “Zero Tolerance to Maltreatment”. The Academy is aggressively implementing a “NO-MALTREATMENT POLICY” among the cadets. PMA adheres to the respect of human rights, and observance of the principles of International Humanitarian Law and the rule of law.

            Successful applicants will compose the PMA Class 2020 who will be officially received in the Academy in an Oath-Taking Ceremony and Reception Rites on April 01, 2016.

(NB.  Applicant Forms can be downloaded from www.pma.ph. Applicants can also apply on-line in the said website. For more information, call (074) 447-3686, (074) 447-2632  local 6751, 6752,   Smart – 0928-559-7651, Sun Cellular – 0943-705 6890, Globe – 0917-896– 4299, or write the Office of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort General Gregorio H Del Pilar, 2602, Baguio City.)