Marine battalion from Mindanao tapped for N. Luzon, PH Rise duty

PORT IRENE, Sta. Ana, Cagayan – Armed Forces of the Philippines-Northern Luzon Command (AFPNoLCom) chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat said that troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 (MBLT 8) now deployed in Northern Luzon are also tasked to secure the Philippine Rise, previously known as the Benham Rise.

Salamat said the troops from Jolo, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, have been deployed for the first time in Northern Luzon to augment forces of Joint Task Force Tala under the 5th Infantry Division for Internal Security Operations (ISO), territorial defense and HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief).

“We have vast maritime areas in the northern frontier and farthest island not only in Batanes Group of Islands but also in the northern part of the island. We have the Mavulis Island which (we) project to have Marines as well. With that we can promote and manifest our strong claims in the farthest islands of the northern frontier,” Salamat said.

“The Northern Luzon Command also covers not only Region 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region but also include the vastness of the maritime areas of the eastern and western seaboard so we have the Scarborough Shoal and Philippine Rise and the northern border we have the Batanes Group Island,” he added.

Salamat said that aside from the deployment of Marines, having additional air and sea assets serves as a big boost to NoLCom’s effort to ensure regular maritime patrols in the Philippine Rise.

“And that is the marching order of the President, to secure our interests and maritime interests in the Philippine Rise as well,” Salamat said.

In order to protect the Philippine Rise, Salamat said they follow the basic rules of engagements.

“Meron tayong mga (We have) protocols and diplomatic actions that we have set guidance from the national government on how to deal with those cases and incidents,” he said.

“Definitely we will have the mandate to protect our Philippine Rise,” he added.