Modernization of PNP Maritime Group starts
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 07:45:32 +0000
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started a full-blown modernization of its maritime unit to strengthen the monitoring and patrol of shorelines amid the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country through the open seas.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said among the modernization steps is to procure as many motorized patrol boats and recruitment and training of more personnel for maritime operations.
“We are modernizing our Maritime Group. We have procurement last year and there will be a portion of our 2019 budget that will be allocated for the capability enhancement,” said Albayalde.
Recently, almost P2 billion worth of shabu were seized in a raid on the warehouse in Cavite. It also resulted in the death of two foreigners.
Based on the initial investigation, the more than 200 kilos of shabu seized had just been fetched from the high seas and sneaked into a warehouse in Cavite for repacking and distribution.
Chief Supt. Rodelio Jocson, director of the PNP Maritime Group, said 28 gunboats have been procured last year, seven of them have already been delivered while the remaining 21 are expected to be turned over to them this year.
“We will also buy 18 more gunboats this year. So these new assets are really a very significant improvement on our capability,” Jocson said.
Aside from brand new patrol gunboats, Jocson said several drones will also be delivered to the Maritime Group.
The drones, he said, will complement the patrol and other operations of Maritime Group personnel on board the gunboats.
“The procurement of drones comes with the construction of drone centers and training of drone pilots,” said Jocson.
Despite the procurement, Jocson admitted that guarding the country’s coastlines remain a big challenge.
The Philippines, he said, is the fifth country in the world with the longest coastlines, making it difficult to totally seal off the country from smuggling activities, particularly for drugs.
Albayalde earlier said that this is one of the major reasons why the Philippines is also a favorite transient point of international drugs syndicates.
Last week, a total of 88 bricks of cocaine were recovered off the waters of Dinagat Island and Surigao del Norte.
The cocaine bricks are believed to have been dropped for pick-up and transport to other countries.
The limited sea assets to patrol the open seas, according to Albayalde, is being complemented with various border patrol agreements with neighboring countries. (Aaron Recuenco)