PNP upgrades maritime capabilities to stop drug smuggling via open seas

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started modernizing 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 the procurement of 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 12 billion worth of shabu was seized in a raid on a warehouse in Cavite which also led to the killing of two foreigners believed to be behind the smuggling.

Based on the initial investigation, the more than 200 kilos of shabu was smuggled through the sea and sneaked into a warehouse in Cavite for repacking and distribution.

Chief Supt. Rodelio Jocson, director of the PNP Maritime Group, said 28 gunboats were 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 told the Manila Bulletin in an interview.

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 remains 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 drugs.

Albayalde earlier said that this is one of the major reasons why the Philippines is also a favorite transshipment 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 eventual transport to other countries.

The limited sea assets to patrol the open seas, according to Albayalde, are being complemented with various border patrol agreements with neighboring countries.

"Notwithstanding our bilateral agreements with Indonesia and with Malaysia, there are continuous border patrols with dual purposes – against illegal drugs and against terrorism," said Albayalde. (Aaron Recuenco)