PCG assigns new patrol boat to BOC-Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CIY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has assigned a patrol boat with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) district office in this city to boost their campaign on anti-smuggling in the ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area.

PCG Commander for Southwestern Mindanao Commodore Joseph Coyme said the BRP Malamawi (FPB-2403) is a 24 meter past patrol boat made in France and will arrive in this city Friday.

Coyme said the newly-acquired ship will be deployed in the Area of Responsibility or AOR of PCG southwestern Mindanao to help BOC in their campaign on Anti-Smuggling.

BOC Zamboanga City District Collector Segundo Barte Jr. said yesterday BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is expected today to grace the arrival of BRP Malamawi at the Zamboanga City International port in this city.

Barte said the BRP Malamawi would be of great help to the BOC here in their campaign against anti-smuggling or to the entry of illicit imported goods to ZamBaSulTa.

“Assigning to the BOC here a fast patrol boat by the PCG is of great help to us especially in the campaign on anti-smuggling,” Barte told newsmen here.

He said it was the vision and mission of BOC to stop smuggling activities all over the country particularly in the ZamBaSulTa area.

Guerrero is also expected to evaluate the anti-smuggling campaign of BOC in this city.

“We expect Comm. Guerrero to also conduct his personal evaluation on the implementation of the priority programs of BOC in this city,” he said.

He emphasized that “your BOC here do just sleep on the assignment given to us by our commission. We always do our assigned task” (Nonoy E. Lacson)