PNP eyes integration of marine units with PH Navy, Coast Guard

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 28, 2023): PNP eyes integration of marine units with PH Navy, Coast Guard (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

(Screengrab from PNP Facebook live video)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking at the possibility of integrating its maritime units with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard in a bid to strengthen the government’s maritime law enforcement capability.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said their maritime units' patrols will focus near the shorelines and help in the ongoing campaign against smuggling, human trafficking and other transnational crimes.

“We wanted to have a memorandum of understanding with them (PCG and Philippine Navy) to secure our waters against contrabands and including the campaign against human trafficking,” he told reporters on the sidelines after the presentation and blessing of newly procured PNP equipment at the PNP Grandstand in Camp Crame Monday.

He said the focus would be on the Philippine boundaries with Malaysia and Indonesia.

The borders in the southern part of the Philippines are considered as porous and are usually the routes of smuggling and human trafficking activities.

In the past, the Philippines' southern border is the usual route for international terrorists seeking refuge in the Philippines and has been the favorite route of the Abu Sayyaf Group in its kidnapping activities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The PNP’s procurement of sea vessels, which is part of its modernization program, is currently focused on the western part of Mindanao.

Two high-speed watercraft were among the newly-procured equipment of the PNP that were blessed and presented on Monday.

PCG commandant Adm. Artemio Abu, who served as guest of honor and speaker of the event, vowed to work with the PNP in law enforcement activities.

“As the commandant of the PCG, it has been my advocacy to strengthen our partnership, coordination and collaboration with the stakeholders and other government agencies. It is our firm belief that by working together we achieve great things, that of enforcing the law and addressing lawless activities in the community and in achieving this end, we both believe that the whole is far more than the sum of its parts,” said Abu.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196211