Cotabato children get books, school supplies

The Asia Foundation through the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner, donated books to the Tactical Operation Group 12 of Philippine Air Force headed by Lieutenant Colonel Cris Tumanda who led the distribution of the reading materials and school supplies to the Kalanganan Elementary School in Cotabato City as part of the “Brigada Eskwela.” (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 3, 2010) – The Philippine Air Force in association with The Asia Foundation and the Mindanao Examiner distributed books and school supplies to children ahead of the opening of classes in Mindanao.

Air Force reservists from Masagip Class 2009 and Maghatol Class 2010 also joined the distribution of the books and school supplies as part of the so-called “Brigada Eskwela” at the Kalanganan Elementary School in Cotabato City.

The recent activity was in connection with the first founding anniversary of the 353rd Ready Reserve Air Squadron of the Philippine Air Force.

The Asia Foundation through the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner, donated the books to the Tactical Operation Group 12 of Philippine Air Force headed by Lieutenant Colonel Cris Tumanda. The Mindanao Examiner is one of the media partner of The Asia Foundation in the southern Philippines. (Mark Navales)

Philippine Air Force chief visits Maguindanao air base

The Philippine Air force Tactical Operation Group 12 headed by Colonel Laurcris Tumanda welcomes Philippine Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena, left, during his weekend visit in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

Wounded PDEA agents airlifted to Davao City

A Philippine Air force medical team under Tactical Operations Group 12 commander Lieutenant Colonel Dionisio Robles assists the two wounded PDEA agents who were airlifted to Davao City from Maguindanao province on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 13, 2009) – Two members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency wounded in an ambush in Maguindanao province were transferred Tuesday to Davao City for medical treatment, officials said.

The wounded agents were airlifted by a Philippine Air Force medical team under Lt. Col. Dionisio Robles.

Police said two other agents were killed in Monday attack that occurred at around 5.30 a.m. in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.

The four victims were to serve a warrant of arrest to Piad Abdullah when gunmen ambushed them. It was unknown whether the ambushers were followers of Abdullah or if there was a leak of his impending arrest.

Police reports identified the slain agents as Pablo Jala and Tho and the wounded as Brian Babang and Mark Anthony Viray – all members of the PDEA in the Muslim autonomous region. (With a report from Mark Navales)

Photo: Cotabato City Is Under Water

An aerial view from a Philippine Air Force helicopter of TOG 12 under Colonel Dionisio Robles as it conducts a search and rescue operation Saturday, July 5, 2008 in Cotabato City on the southern island of Mindanao where 17 villages are underwater. More than a thousand people have been displaced by flash floods and are now staying in public schools used as temporary shelters. The floods also destroyed farmlands and fish cages. At least 5 people died from flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains the past days. Rivers, clogged with water lilies, also overflowed. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

Photo: Our Heroes!

Philippine Air Force Tactical Operation Group (TOG 12) of the 3rd Air Division under Lt. Col. Dionisio Robles, (left), and Philippine Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Rolito Abad, (2nd from left), and 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, (right), during a “search and rescue” conference in Maguindanao province, ravaged by typhoon Fengshen. The Army and the Air Force led a massive operation to rescue trapped villagers in areas submerged by flood waters in central Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)