Rody to PCG: Fight pirates, sink their ships

President Duterte has ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to crush sea pirates and other lawless elements who will fight arrest during operations within the country’s territorial waters.

He said the PCG could subdue the sea pirates or even sink their ships to make navigation and marine resources safe.

Earlier, Duterte said sea pirates engaged in kidnapping and other illegal activities must be destroyed.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the President gave the instructions to commandant Rear Admiral William Melad during the agency’s 115th anniversary last Wednesday.

During the event, Duterte formally commissioned the agency’s latest vessel, the 44- meter BRP Tubbataha, to help the PCG

perform its duty.

“President Duterte told Rear Admiral Melad that all forms of lawlessness such as sea piracy (must be stopped); if they fight back, if needed… they should be subdued even to the point of sinking their ship,” Balilo said.

Balilo expressed belief that the President might also be referring to terrorists, the Abu Sayyaf and those engaged in hijacking of a ship and illegal drug activities.

Balilo said Duterte empowered the PCG personnel when he sent out the message that he had their back in lawfully performing their functions to ensure maritime security.

“We are being given clearance that our people should not be afraid to perform their functions. We have the security, we have the peace of mind in knowing that the President has given this guidance,” he added.

Balilo admitted that in the past some of their troops would hesitate in exercising their functions because they were afraid that a legal case could be filed against them.

In September, Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed to work more closely to tackle Islamist extremism and crimes at sea while also bolstering maritime security in a region struggling to fight piracy.

The two leaders, noted for their tough approach to drug offenders, signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation on maritime security in the Sulu Sea separating the two archipelagoes.

Duterte said he supported allowing Indonesian forces pursuing suspected pirates to enter Philippine waters but, for now, coordination would be the priority.

Speaking to members of the Filipino community before his meeting with Widodo, Duterte said if Indonesian forces were in hot pursuit of pirates, they could enter Philippine waters and “blast them off.”

The two countries, along with Malaysia, have been shaping plans for joint patrols and discussing ways to enable pursuits into each other’s territorial waters in a bid to stop a surge in piracy and abductions this year.