Phl, Japanese coast guards hold anti-sea piracy drills

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) held yesterday anti-sea piracy exercises in Mindanao to prevent threats posed by terrorists like the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The PCG and the JCG held joint anti-sea piracy exercises in Jolo, Sulu and the Celebes Sea while maritime law enforcement training exercises would be held from May 30 until June 3 in the Davao Gulf.

When asked if there was a chance the ASG would attack the PCG and JCG assets and personnel taking part in the one-day exercise, PCG officer-in-charge Commodore Joel Garcia said, “I don’t think so.”

He explained that since they would use an air asset of the JCG, there is little possibility that the Muslim bandits would be able to disrupt the event.  

The PCG deployed the BRP Romblon, BRP Malapascua and monitoring control and surveillance vessel 3007 while the JCG used a Falcon 900 plane.

They demonstrated communication and surveillance exercises in the event pirates would attack a cargo vessel.  

“Definitely, we are not worried about the disruption or the Abu Sayyaf taking measures against the exercise because the exercise would be conducted by air to test the maritime surveillance capability of both coast guards,” said Garcia. 

The maritime exercises would focus on aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. 

One of the current challenges that the PCG is facing is sea piracy.

Since the middle of last year, the PCG recorded 22 incidents, of which 13 were actual kidnappings and nine attempted kidnappings in Mindanao.  

The problems prevailing in the area prompted them to conduct the exercise in Sulu and Celebes Sea.

“The concern of the international shipping community is how to fight kidnapping and armed robbery at sea and I think the joint exercise between the PCG and JCG would be a good symbolism of our strong partnership and cooperation with respect to combating armed robbery,” said Garcia. 

JCG vice commandant for operations Vice Admiral Shuichi Iwanami explained that the exercise are in line with the two coast guard agencies’ existing memorandum of cooperation.