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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG starts 3rd phase of maritime exercises, steps up anti-piracy patrols in Mindanao

PCG starts 3rd phase of maritime exercises, steps up anti-piracy patrols in Mindanao

Published Jun 21, 2021 12:20 pm

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have started on Monday, June 21, the third phase of their maritime drills, which zero in on anti-piracy and anti-terrorism in Mindanao to strengthen the maritime law enforcement within the region.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the third maritime exercises, led by the Task Force “Pagsasanay,” will be conducted off Basilan, Sulu, and Jolo waters. Members of the Special Operations Force of the Coast Guard were deployed in the area with four ships and three helicopters.

At least 30 fishermen received relief packs such as purified drinking water, canned goods, coffee, bread, hygiene supplies, and pair of slippers in Zamboanga City, on Monday, June 21. (Photo courtesy of the PCG)

The first leg of the drills started in April with the activation of Task Force Pagsasanay, a unit formed by the PCG to train its personnel on navigation, is restricted bodies of water.

Balilo said they will intensify maritime training at the Sibutu Passage where almost 13,000 international vessels are passing and a series of piracy and kidnapping incidents have transpired in previous years.

“In 2018, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) collaborated to gradually minimized the piracy threats and now there are no pirates or piracy incidents being reported,” Balilo said in an interview over Super Radyo DZBB on Sunday night, June 20.

The PCG spokesperson said that they also placed radar stations in the Sibutu Passage to monitor the ships passing in the area--the information are transmitted to the headquarters as they can easily respond in emergency situations.

“Let us show that the action will continue in the area and we should not be overtaken, this is now our purpose in the exercise of our ships the communications and the response of the air supports will be strengthened in the exercise,” Balilo said in Filipino.

Apart from the maritime law enforcement exercises, the PCG personnel also focused on humanitarian activities as they distributed relief packs for the fishermen in Zamboanga City on Monday.

At least 30 fishermen received relief packs such as purified drinking water, canned goods, coffee, bread, hygiene supplies, and pair of slippers in Zamboanga City, on Monday, June 21. (Photo courtesy of the PCG)

At least 30 fishermen received relief packs such as purified drinking water, canned goods, coffee, bread, hygiene supplies, and pair of slippers.

The PCG said the initiative aims to help local fishermen and their families to continue recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Related Tags

Mindanao anti-terrorism anti-piracy third phase TASK FORCE PAGSASANAY PCG
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