Coast Guard gets training from US

The Philippine Coast Guard has received new equipment from the US government to boost its maritime law enforcement operation against terrorists.

Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Coyme, Coast Guard spokesman, said the five big boxes of investigation kits and various equipment were donated through the US Embassy’s anti-terrorism assistance program.

Coast Guard officers also underwent an anti-terrorist training course from the US, including combating domestic and transnational terrorism, preventing, interdicting and investigating acts of terrorism and post-blast investigation training, he added.

Coyme said last year the government deployed sea marshals to investigate suspicious looking persons, inspect hand-carried baggage and areas within the port or ship following the bombing of a Cebu-bound passenger ferry off Corregidor island on Feb. 27, 2004.

"The marshals and bomb-sniffing dogs now accompany ferries, while the government imposed tougher screening of passengers and cargoes," he said. "Port workers are also being trained in security."

"The security system is in line with the implementation of the International Security for Port and Ship Facility Code," he added. — Edu Punay