Our navy's patrol force
Media
Part of Philippine Armed Forces Journal
- Title
- Our navy's patrol force
- Language
- English
- Source
- Philippine Armed Forces Journal Volume IX (No. 6) April 1956
- Year
- 1956
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- •' : .. I •·S~ coves, bays of diffen:nt proportions, O!ach on\' of whtrh is sUJJposed ~a'~; ~~:.r~:dpabt~tct:l:r~~~:b~~~~0~e;:r~~~g armed for·ct>: the p~-ilippirw Th, Patrol Fot'Cl' was 01·gamzed on Mar 12, 1950 as the combat ann .,{ th•• Philippmt> Navy. Its primar~· m iSSion is to tram, maintam, and <>JWt·at .. na,·al forces Tot tombat; render naval support nl"eded by the ulhl'r branch .. s nf the At·mcd Fot·ces; and to perform the Navy's polic•• fu nctionti. 1t ts therefore a combmation of Navy and Coast Guard \vith l'<•gard to functton,.:. '. Fn~t headed by then Commander toms, and Immigt·ation agents. Cados Albert, the command was The fact that the activities covered tunwd over to Commander Hemdeo by aforementioned bureaus can take Aluno when the fot·mct· became Chief place In any cove and any size of of Naval Staff. On Fcbru:ny 3, beach bnngs to light the depth of the 1!1ii6, Alano in turn was t·elien:Ji of PF'~ duties. Its duty is further tht· position to become Ch1 cf of Na- compounded by its bcinJr c!lllcd upon val Staff by Captain J uan R. Mag- fn•quently to render Sl"n•ices when1\tyan. Patrol F'oi"Cl' commanders 1'\'Cr natural 01 at'tlfi~tal calamitics inntriably succeed to the pol'<ition o{ befall the pl'opl~. Thus, its duties thl' ('htl•f nf Na,·al Staff_ Ma~luyan cover guanhng against onvasion, it' ;.111 oldtillll't' who started in the curbnop:: smugglmg, supptl'ssing anN:ov).'s forerunner. Uw Off-Shore t1-conservation actJ\'Ities like dynaPatrol way hafk in Hl39. mote f1shong-, appreh ... nding- illegal Patrol Fore ... nutil's immig-rants, and pt-rformmg humanIn order to appn•ciatc the im- itarian actJvito('~. nll>rl~lt~· of th•• tasks assip::nt-d to th(· Equipment and Train in~ Patrol Force, one has to sturlv the Tt• can y uut thu:~ •·aric~atc•l dura,·tor~ within 1ts operatiOnal urPa. ty, th•· PF has several ships wellTho· }nimary mission of an~· Navy suited to the natun· M 1ls wnrk, Operating Parallel to a coastline measuring 14,700 miles, and assigned various missions that include enforcement of customs laws, ill-equipped Patrol Force manages to establi~h for itself impressive record that merits for it confidence ' of people and greater financial support 1.~. ~.r coors", to r'l'puls•• m•·arlt·r~. ranging from ~mall palrut c•·aft lo Thi~ 'particular mission of uur Na minesw.,epl'rs and :;ub cha,.c•-~- Manvy, howt·v•·•. i.- hl!htt'nl'fl immeasur- ned by adf'·quat•:l}' traln.·cl men, some >lbly hy th.· 1"'"'-~"ncf• ,,r Uniterl of thf>S(' sh1ps are woo•h·n hullcci paStat•·s N;n·aJ Forc"s w1thm our trot cmft whose shalh"' draft enshor .. ~ anci along uur sl;'ai:, and tht· ablt: thlo'm to pursu~;, 1f n~d bt,, sus. fa('\ that thrnu);!'hout th•· lii'Chipl•la· piciou!' vessels attempting to c;:cape .co. the·•·•• an· nnl~· a lim1t<>d numb~:r apJH'ehen~ion br Sl't'king the protecnf Jllact';: whrJ·ein an invasion fore<· lion affo1·decl br wat•n too ;:hallow 11f aprnt-ciablr sizr can land. Th•· m- for biJ<'S!:'l'l boats. Neal"ly all of th(' l'a;:iou uf th•· Philipt•incs, ttw1·efor-c ships 1111· equipped with cl•-<:tronic -a• mt·d, full seal(' •n•·asion, that is rl•·•·ie•·~ likl· sonar and radar, and -•ln•·s not I'('QUII"(' t·elatin·ly much eaeh nn•· 1S armf'rl w1th wear•on,: <If ctjuipmf'nt and . men from the J'hil divers•• calibers and kinds. IJ'JIIjl•· r\aq· in orrll'r to be gua•·rl ... rl Many of its off1cers and men, a~ a~a1nst. How..-VI'l', our Patrol Force in other branches of tho· Armed has al~n hel'n clt•putizPd by Execu- Forcrs. have underjz'One traming 10 Orde•· as F1~hl'ries, Cus- the United States. The men of the Patrol F'or<:(' und('l'jZO con.<;tant train- out too well the benefits the•couninJ!: to kef'p them in ,;tq1 with the try will jZ3in if this lack were relates.t tf'chniqu<'s in,·oh·ed in their m£>died. particular wo1k, and to keep them Patrol Fore£> Acti,•ities adt•pt, [H'N:is(' and combat-J'Mdy. In A case in pomt is tht- acth•ity of addition to what f'\'f'I'Y ~;ailor is sup- the PF in the south. YParly a 1•o~ed to know about his duty, the steady stream of smugJZled 1-:'oods men are also traint.>d in thl· USI' of flow into our southem llOrts from small arms since they haw occasion all points in the world usually cours to !lO on Iandin!!.' parti1•!:. Their o,·er ed throujZh nearby Bornoo. Ciga,·ettPs, all efficiency was manifested when rugs, pe1·fume, textih:, anrl jl'welry ltiPr !'{'("Piltlr went on SNl-maneu,·('r~ whos(' wo1th runs to ~•·•·en fu.rurPs under the watchful CY"-' of both local are sneaked via unobtrUSI''"-' and and forcijZn ~·xperts. SP"-'I'dily O"lusive k!WJJiif~ or Vi;~ the Adt-quat"' lllf'11 and adl'(,uate f'quip- more common lll('thods of smug~tling nwnt a!'(' mattti'rs different from likf' concealment among legal goorls . ..,aeh othti'l. howe\'el'. Hampet·erl by Thl' PF ha;; confiscated J::ev111ral millack of funds, the PF ha;; 1\E'I'l'l'the- lions worth of tht>se ~Hticlti'~ and less tried tn Pt.'tform thr duti1•!; as tornl'd thl'm O\'er to the l'l'lo:'ular cussigned to it through th1· t·Psom·ce- toms authorittes fot proper .-hsposi· fulness and dili!Zenct- of her offtce1·s tion; the culpnts captured art." tun1 and nwn That thl• PF ha~ chalkf'd .. d OI'E'I to qual1f1ed authonheS' for Ul• thl' illlple~sn·,. record that sh,. h«~, prosO"cut10n. with tnsufficil'llt mocans, only poitlls Throughout th!· ~.-a~. P F' vcs:orl,;, '· whenHer advisable and possible, the fcn-ying of V!Ps on inspection chase or stop every suspicious-look- trips. The PF, needless to say, was ing boat. In this way, the PF has not principally intended for this miscaught several foreign fishmg craft sion. Its vessels, for the most part, violating Philippine territorial wa- were designed for combat and every tcrs, dynamite fishers, and unli- inch of space has been planned for ccnsed ship-operators. A part of that sole purpose. Be that as it may, ~ .. thci• duty as enforcers of customs an inspection of a PF ship would laws is to see to it that each vcs- often reveal that it is crammed with sci has the necessary facilities for cases of food, bales of clothings, arits particular cargo; either goods, tesian wells plus perhaps several repa.ssengers, or boats. Thus, vessels fugees from a disaster area. Nevel'are inspected for possible overload- theless, the PF has seldom, if eve1 ·, ing, inadequate sanitation, m(>dical denied any plea for assistance, mak ,, ,. l'eflonneloiPotro/Forceundergoconllantlrainingtoke•p lechniques in their wor~. tocol ond foreign uperf• were highly impreued br ua• moneuu" held recently by Potrol fotce o/ong the archipelago's ohore/ine1. and life--saving facilities. ing up for inadequate facilities by PF units engaged in enforcing improvising ways and means. laws may be callerl to scenes of di- It also transports armed fo1·ccs pel'sastet· as is often the case. When- sonnel with their equipment, supplies, ever relief supplies and men concern- guns and ammunition. It also ased with the disaster need fe1·rying, sists in At·my operations against disthe PF is asked to p1·ovidc the means. sidents by acting as the supply line In addition, it is also eunently en- or by lendin~o:" direct !ire support; ~agt>d in performing the task re- helping confine bandits trapped on quired of it in connection with the islands by denying them escape country's teconstruction program. through the sea, and by denyin~ tht St;ll another facet of its work is enemy the chance to reinforce or airl his 1·anks b)' way of the sea. These, The Huks, at first glance,' sel'm coupll'd with its constant watch to havl' bl'en busted with just mino1 against Red infiltt·ation by means of mopping-ups required to eliminate watl'rcraft or submarines, c:onstitull' thl' menace c:ompletely. Howl'W'I., the military a~pect of the l)F's ~P this may bt: far from the truth !'rations. The· Huk movement may h(' likened Anli·Hcd Dri\'C to an iceberg; the much greater At present the PF is also engaged part of an iceberg is below the sea iu critical battle. No gun fire is surface; the greater part of the Huk involved, no noise is heard - but ml'nace is below the surface of obthe consequence is serious. It is the servation. The Huks may hav.e constant war against the infiltra- shifted thcil· lli('thods but without tion of Communist agent~. doubt th('ir intention to ~ubduc the ~"'•ol Fern un•l• comb r~e leti!IOI!ol woleto of rhe counrr,, and .top and intp•<l ell u11picioudoohng uuels ro check !lle!Jol '"''"'''•' H .. omugglm!J ond infillrofion br unourhonzed alien< ro whom rhe Pl>doppon•" " opet> throu!Jh oU comtlOu pam" WJ.enuer dif(u!er 1triku in onr area al !he hland1, the Patral farce;, called upan '" !ranspar! relief goods ond r•fugu• I! oho lertieJ farm implemenh lo !I.e rur"l orecu where the1 ore needed 01 o confrrlw!ron !o ~M·s tvral de.-e/opt"'ent program 'ii'uv•·rnrnent rl'rnams. The1r )cadl'll; <'11)-:ag:t•.l m forming a fig:urativt· ok u:odnubtcdly realized that thci1 ranks fcnst- net aro·md the country. Urut~ ha1·e been critically depleted, and of the PF comb the coast., amund their morale g:rav!'ly lowt:rcO. Thus, thl' clock, evt>r-alert and ever-watchto 1nfuse new blood to the movl' ful nf 1ts cle\"er and diabolical ad m~ut, Red agents from furel).:n coun- \"ersary. tries• may have 1mpn1ted them.-;l•lvcs The task invol1·ed 111 denring: enhere. The Philippines is upcn to 111- try to infiltrators is, by itself, imfiltration through all pumts of the mense enough, considerin).: th(· c')uir· compass: from Red China in the ment which the PF has to work and north or Indonesia in the south, not the limited numbc1· of personnel counting the proximity of North which is below table of organization R01·neo, or the I"Uincrability of tht· requir·cmcnts for all its units due ca.~tcrn ~ea b<lard to submarines from to p .. rennial budget restrictions. Its Vladivostok. R<.:d agents may h" l'ffic1cncy bowc,·ct·, belles the inade SCCI'ded tn the shuH·s, dl~guost•d u1 quae~· of it!< tools, and it is a tl"ibllllngl"'' 11"1\h thl· population, or· ma} uto· to tho· pt·rsonncl of the Pat1·ol be p1cko·(t up bv H ul. a•mcd guants l~orCe that th1s is ~"on dt•Sij!nat<·cl ~pnts w1th infonna- In tts sox years of t:xistcnc(', thl' lion, supphl'~ ur c•(!Uif>ment to Patrol Force• has strung up a record stn.\nghlt·n tho.:11 caUsl'. of achin·o.:nwnt.-; which it, and tlw To ~uant against -:;uch lllflltrat '""· people it ~•·n·cs, can vcry well he tho• Na,·y·s Patrol Forcl· i!> mt,·nsc·h· proud uf.