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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG to enforce stricter measures vs infringement in Philippine waters

PCG to enforce stricter measures vs infringement in Philippine waters

Published May 20, 2024 07:13 am
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Members of the Philippine Coast Guard's Maritime Security Law Enforcement Groups (MARSLEGs) are sent off in a ceremony at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila on May 20, 2024. (Contributed photo)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed a total of 110 additional personnel in six “critical” regions on Monday, May 20, to intensify law enforcement operations against individuals intruding into the country's territorial waters.

The move came as China announced last week that it will implement a new regulation empowering its coast guard to arrest foreigners trespassing into the areas it claims in the South China Sea, even without trial, from 30 to 60 days.

The personnel were sent off in a ceremony held at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila.

They will compose what the PCG calls as the “Maritime Security Law Enforcement Groups (MARSLEGS) and they were fielded in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Southwestern Mindanao.

"We reaffirm our commitment to working together to uphold the highest standards of maritime security and ensure the territorial integrity of our country," Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., PCG deputy commandant for operations, said.

MARSLEG commander Vice Adm. Robert Patrimonio, shared that MARSLEGs are tasked to strengthen maritime security drive and ensure the smooth flow of maritime economics within the Philippine domestic waters. 

"The MARSLEGs will augment and intensify our fight against human trafficking, illegal fishing activities, drugs and arms smuggling, and other maritime infringements within the municipal waters," CG Vice Admiral Patrimonio added. 

The six regions were specifically chosen as they are deemed critical due to high maritime traffic and high reports of maritime security incidents, he added.

MARSLEGs

According to the PCG, the MARSLEGs will supervise and implement laws, policies, guidelines, rules, and regulations pertaining to the security law enforcement on sea transport and maritime infrastructures in the country.

Each MARSLEG is composed of highly trained PCG personnel from the: Coast Guard K9 Force, Coast Guard Security and Border Protection Force, Coast Guard Investigation and Detection Force, Coast Guard Surface Patrol Force, and Coast Guard Sea Marshall Force.

Last week, the PCG announced that it detained a Chinese-manned vessel, MT Hyperline, sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone off San Felipe, Zambales due to several "deficiencies".

The foreign vessel was monitored hoisting the Philippine flag and upon verification, the PCG found out that its automatic identification system (AIS) was turned off.

All seven crew members, including the ship master, failed to present original and printed versions of relevant documents such as crew list, passports, and seaman's books.

Their last port call was in Hong Kong and they departed there on May 11. They arrived in Zambales on May 15 and were supposed to arrive at their intended port of destination at the Manila Anchorage Area.

Patrimonio said they will expand the deployment of MARSLEG personnel to guard the coastlines of other regions from intruders “within the year.”

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