(Philippine Marine soldiers gather around the Philippine flag planted on the peak of Mavulis Island in Batanes. Photo Courtesy of Nolcom)
CLARK FREEPORT – After the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) planted for the first time in 2016 the Philippine flag on the country’s northernmost Mavulis island in Batanes, it also held on the island’s highest point last Sept. 5 “historic” promotion ceremonies for two Philippine Marine officers.
This, even as Nolcom also reported that materials for the construction of a building have all been delivered on the island which is called Yami by Taiwan which also lays territorial claim within the waters of the Bashi channel where Mavulis island is found. Mavulis lies only 98 kilometers south of Taiwan’s Orchid Island.
Philippine Navy commanding officer, Lt. Col. Rommel Bognalbal led members of the ship BRP Dagupan City and the 1st Naval Waterfront Construction Battalion hiked to the island’s highest peak where they held ceremonies promoting from the rank of major to captain Philippine Marines personnel Jerrick Ian Duliguez and Leomar San Joaquin, Nolcom said yesterday.
A flag raising ceremony was also held at the peak, it noted.
“The donning of ranks to the two Marine officers in this northernmost island of the archipelago is the first of its kind, once in a lifetime experience for both the marine captains who were previously deployed in the island of Tawi-Tawi. It is also a unique experience for those officers and personnel who were there to witness this momentous event,” Bogñalbal said.
He said “this historical event also reinforces every soldier’s burning passion to protect every island in our territory.”
This, even as the navy and marines are now rushing the construction of a shelter for fishermen on the island.
Nolcom said “a fleet-marine task unit set sail from Port Irene, Sta. Ana, Cagayan to bring building materials needed for the construction of a fishermen shelter in the said island. Braving the bad weather, these soldiers were able to unload all the cargoes needed for the project that will benefit the local fishermen.”
Nolcom recalled that on April 30, 2016, it also hoisted the Philippine flag on Mavulis Island “as a way of asserting the country’s sovereign territory on the island and heeding the call of the local government to help turn the island into a resting place and haven of shelter for Filipino fishermen.”
In 2013, a Philippine Coast Guard vessel opened fire on Taiwanese fishing boat Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, killing the captain’s father, Hung Shih-chen. Following that incident, Taiwan Navy sent a group of warships consisting of the Keelung-class destroyer Ma Kung and Kang Ding-class frigates Kang Ting and Cheng Te across the “temporary enforcement line” between Taiwan and the Philippines in a “joint fisheries protection exercise.”
