Westmincom advises sailors to be always vigilant

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 19): Westmincom advises sailors to be always vigilant

Sailors of merchant vessels plying the seas off Western Mindanao should be vigilant to protect themselves from piracy and terrorist attacks.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, on Wednesday issued the advice to merchant sailors in a bid to reduce the atrocities committed at sea by lawless groups.

“Our sailors plying these waters [in Western Mindanao] should be vigilant all the time since these threat groups will be trying to hijack vessels and conduct atrocities,” Galvez said.

“It is only when all of us will do our share of fighting this common enemy that we will surely defeat and disallow the bandits to continue sowing fear and terror in our seas and our communities,” Galvez added.

On Tuesday, troops aboard patrol gunboats and helicopters foiled a hijack attempt on cargo vessel M/V Anabelle, which was manned by 21 crewmen, off Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

The crew of M/V Anabelle sent distress calls when they noticed that gunmen aboard three motorboats were attempting to board their ship en route to this city.

The gunmen sped off upon sensing the arrival of the Navy ships and Air Force helicopters.

“Our naval assets are ready to render the necessary assistance to deter hijacking and abduction at the seas,” Rear Adm. Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, said.

Tuesday’s incident was the second hijacking attempt the troops have thwarted.

The first was on February 22, where Navy ships foiled the attempt of suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits to hijack M/V Dong Hae Star off Tawi-Tawi province.

The bandits immediately aborted their plan upon sensing the arrival of Naval ships and helicopters.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=980991