China Naval Fleet Haixun 21, 31, 166 Arriving West Philippines Sea; Warship BRP Alcaraz again delayed

Philippine Warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz

Despite the Philippines' repeated protests and condemnation of China's incursions into the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), a fleet of Chinese surveillance ships has again sailed into the contested waters on "regular patrol missions," Chinese state media reported.

The Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan said the fleet composed of the Haixun 21, the Haixun 31 and the Haixun 166 left the province's Sanya port for patrols in the disputed waters, according to a report in China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

"The missions will strengthen china's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's rapid response abilities in the disputed Sea," the report said.

The patrols "will monitor maritime traffic safety, investigate maritime accidents, detect pollution, and carry out search and rescue work," it added.

The patrol is China's second known ship deployment in the West Philippine Sea. It previously dispatched two ships from the city of Guangzhou in southern China.

China earlier announced fishery patrols in the West Philippine Sea, prompting "strong objection" from the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately issue any statement on Saturday but it had many times in the past condemned similar Chinese patrols as violations of the Philippines' established maritime borders.

The Philippine government in January went to a United Nations (UN) arbitral panel to put a stop to China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea. The legal action also seeks to invalidate China's nine-dash line claim, which places almost all of the West Philippine Sea islands within Chinese territory.

China has refused to participate in the compulsory process, a decision that could boost the Philippines' case before the ad hoc tribunal, says a world expert on international law.

"If China does not participate, it will not be able to submit evidence and make legal arguments. So it's really strengthening the Philippines' chances at the tribunal," said Tom Ginsburg, a professor of international law at the University of Chicago.

He conceded, however, that while any UN tribunal decision on the case would be binding, China's compliance would be another matter.

2^nd PHL Warship Again delayed for more sophisticated Trainings for Mk38 Mod 2

The arrival of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the second warship acquired by the Philippines from the United States, has been moved to August due to the need to conduct more training for its crew.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said yesterday that the training of Filipino sailors and the refurbishment of the vessel are still ongoing.

"Their trainings are extensive, training in terms of equipment and shipboard evolution. The travel time takes about two months so it will arrive in August," Fabic said in Filipino.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz will have two Mk38 Mod 2 automatic cannon systems and will be among the first ships in the world to be equipped with state-of-the art cannon systems.

The Mk38 Mod 2 is designed to counter high-speed maneuvering surface targets which system would be installed also in almost all US surface ships by 2015.

Defense officials previously said the BRP Alcaraz would arrive in the country by January or February this year. The schedule was pushed back to April, with officials citing the same reason – the need for Navy personnel to undergo training.

Fabic noted that the use of the ship's equipment requires technical knowledge.

"The (pieces of) equipment are sophisticated like those used for navigation, fire control," he said.

RP Alcaraz was acquired from the US Coast Guard, after the acquisition of BRP Gregorio del Pilar in 2011, and was largely used for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement and search and rescue.

The acquisition of the naval assets was intended to enhance the military's maritime defense capability.

Security officials bared plans to fast-track the military's upgrade program amid efforts by China to shore up its presence in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Officials, however, maintain that the upgrade efforts are not directed against any country.

BRP Alcaraz can accommodate up to 180 officers and sailors. The vessel was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat that shot three Japanese aircraft during World War II.

The government spent more than ₱600 million to acquire the ship.

The defense department plans to acquire two more warships within the first quarter.

Among the countries that are ready to provide defense assets are US, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Israel, Croatia and Australia.

With reports from RFTBP, philSTAR, and INQUIRER

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Sabah Death Toll “33” atrocities hinting Civil War: Villagers Attacking Malaysian Police killing 3

• March 1: 12 Sulu Royal Army killed, and 2 Malaysian Police
• March 2: 2 Malaysian Police killed by ambushed
• March 3: 3 Malaysian Policed killed by Villagers, 3 other Malaysian Police killed by armed men, 5 Sulu Royal Army supporters killed by police, 1 armed man killed by villager, 1 Imam religious leader and his 4 sons killed by Malaysian Police

Death counts: [12+2+2+3+3+5+1+1+4=33]

Update as of March 4, 2013 8:50 AM +8 GMT

At least six followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and six Malaysian policemen were killed in clashes in Sabah over the weekend, following Friday's violent shootout that killed 12 Royal Sulu Army and two Malaysian commandos.

Sources from the Philippines authorities monitoring the Kampung Tanduo standoff said Friday's bloody clash that left 12 South Philippines gunmen dead may have provoked sentiments among their followers who have settled along the coastal villages between Tawau and Lahad Datu.

"These gunmen from the Sulu Sultanate are made up mainly of four tribes, namely the Tausug, Maguindanao, Badjao and Samal. These tribes have great brotherhood among them and regardless of their nationalities; they will rise in show of loyalty to their ethnicity.

"It will be no surprise if these tribes living in Malaysia join forces to fight the cause of their Sultanate of Sulu in the Southern Philippines counterparts.

"In Southern Philippines, these tribes also make up the bulk of MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayaf rebels, joining forces in an alliance of convenience to fight common causes. They are hardcore rebels who have battle in their blood and do not give up easily. It is not unusual for them fight to their death." said a source.

The sources said intelligence reports showed that the armed group of about 200 who are followers of the Sulu Ruler Sultan Jamalul Kiram III had planned of settling North Borneo for their claimed as their territory at least four months earlier.

" Sultan Jamalul Kiram III held a meeting with his followers, members of the MNLF and remnants of the Abu Sayaf rebels in October last year and offered them land in Sabah if they fought along to capture the state. They have been entering Sabah undetected since before the standoff on Feb 12, 2013. Other large groups had also attempted to penetrate the Sabah coast since the standoff but it was thwarted by the Philippines navy that has deployed seven ships to keep them away from Malaysian waters."

It is learnt that Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's brother, crowned prince Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram who is leading the armed group in Kampung Tanduo, had on Saturday pleaded for medical assistance for his injured men from the Philippines forces guarding their waters.

However, when he was told that aid would only be rendered if his group gave up their firearms and surrender, Azzimudie refused and remained defiant. It is also learnt that the group had been burying its dead members since Saturday.

Friday's clash ended the 16-day standoff that began on Feb 12 with two police commandos of the Malaysian General Operations Force elite VAT 69 killed and their three squad members severely injured.

Meanwhile, Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the younger brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, claimed during a telephone interview with a Philippines radio station that his men had captured at least five Malaysian policemen and seized a cache of firearms. His claims have yet to be verified with police.

Sources also revealed that three of the five policemen who were killed in the ambush at Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul in Semporna were ruthlessly attacked with parangs and keris by a dozen of people said to be Tausug villagers living there.

It is learnt that a prominent and religious leader who was part of the group that was ambushed and shot by the police party was killed when police returned fire, and this infuriated the rest who went on a rampage with knives and sharp objects.

The superintendent had led three dozen police personnel in an operation at Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul, about 180km from the original area of the stand-off in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

The operation was launched at 4pm on Saturday following intelligence reports of the existence of a cache of firearms in the village and that an uprising by certain groups of villagers believed to be of Southern Philippines origin and residing there was in the making.

About three hours into the operation, the team came under gunfire attack while it was scouring one village after another.

It is learnt that the superintendent who was the first to be hit by a hail of gunshots fired by hiding gunmen died moments later.  

With reports from the Sun Daily, NewStraitsTimes , ABS-CBN News & GMA News

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