U.S. Embassy, Manila ’s Deputy
Chief of Mission
Chief Supt. Jose Ma Victor Ramos was in attendance to
receive the donation on behalf of the PNP along with Sr. Supt. Edmund
Gonzales.
In his dedication, Klecheski noted the importance of
improving maritime police equipment in the region, highlighting that the
maritime domain factors prominently into virtually all law enforcement and
terrorism issues that the Philippines
He cited the impact that the Special Operations Units (SOU)
have had on preventing illegal activity and assisting in regional cooperation
with neighboring countries such as Malaysia
and Vietnam
The donation marks the latest significant milestone in a
more than 10-year partnership between the PNP Maritime Group and the U.S
Departments of State, Defense and Justice (through the International Criminal
Investigative Training Assistance Program).
The goal of this high degree of cooperation is to modernize
maritime law enforcement’s equipment to combat smuggling, drugs, human
trafficking and other forms of seafaring crime.
The boats are all 30-foot vessels or larger and are
collectively worth over USD 2.3 million. They were provided by the State
Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
along with spare parts and supplies.
INL said it would continue to support this transition by
funding the training of the personnel who will handle these vessels.
Since 2010 the State Department has donated 10 patrol boats
that are the primary tools used by the SOU to rescue individuals or stop
criminal behavior.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=902471
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