Negros, Celebes Sea top security priorities
NEGROS Island remains a priority area for the clearing of communist - tacks and abductions of seafarers perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) continue to be serious concerns of authorities in southern Philippines.
assigned commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, admitted that the Communist Party of the (CPP-NPA) maintains mass-based unresolved issues and root causes needing to be addressed.
- - ments of Negros [Occidental and Oriental], local government units and national government agen to resolves issues existing on the island,” he said.
While they are focusing their - ever, added that they also make efforts to sustain their gains in the insurgency-free provinces in West
Negros Island and Iloilo are the remaining provinces in - sayas that are yet to be declared insurgency- free because of the presence of communist rebels in the hinterlands.
Dolina said he is bringing one this month and in early February.
He noted that Negros Occidental has full resources available for Negrenses to enjoy prosperity “but it has been hampered by the peace and order situation.”
are about 500 armed NPA rebels
Dolina said he intends to defeat the NPA on Negros Island and in Iloilo by the end of 2018.
remain over attacks and abductions of seafarers over the Sulu and Celebes Sea areas, according to the report by the anti-piracy body ReCAAP Information Sharing Center.
2017, according to the maritime publication, attacks on merchant ships resulted in the abductions of 59 seafarers from 13 vessels in the troubled but mineral-rich region.
While there have been no actual or attempted attacks since April, Masafumi Kuroki, executive director of ReCAAP, said “the… threat is not yet eliminated.”
Kuroki added that three littoral states--the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia--had made efforts - on the issue.
- - Group, are still there. There is still the potential that the group attacks against ships so I think more needs to be done by the Philippines authorities and the regional states to secure the Sulu- Celebes Sea, particularly for safety of navigation and merchant ships,” he said.
- Hai and Super Shuttle Tug 1, and four attempted attacks on Ocean Kingdom, Donghae Star, Phu An 268 and Dona Annabel. ReCAAP has advised shipping lines to take other routes to the area.
The Philippine military’s West the Navy and the Army, including the Air Force, have been guarding the seas in the area to ensure the safety of mariners.