Maritime cops get funding for purchase of patrol craft

Malabon-Navotas Rep. Ricky Sandoval has pledged P1 million for the purchase of sea craft for Maritime cops in support for their anti-illegal fishing campaign, especially in Manila Bay.

"Manila Bay must be protected for it is an economy itself apart from it is a fishing ground for Malabon-Navotas fisher folk," Sandoval told National Capital Region-Maritime Police Office chief Superintendent Demosthenes "Bu" Felix during a recent courtesy call to the congressman.

Sandoval said dynamite fishing remains a problem in the Manila Bay as he cited in particular the coastal area of Barangay Sipac in Navotas, where blast fishing openly takes place.

Sandoval noted that despite formation of several groups of non-government organizations to help protect Manila Bay, such as Bantay Dagat and Bantay Kalikasan, illegal dynamite fishing continues to exist.

Sandoval lamented that small-time fishermen, who sometimes venture to the high seas to increase their catch without realizing that they are already in violation of a local ordinance, are often victims of some unscrupulous bantay dagat operatives.

Felix said that the NCR-MPO has at least two 15-year-old patrol craft, but they often conk out during operations due to old age.

"Apart from that, these sea craft cannot risk going to shallow waters for they would run aground. Thus, we cannot run after light motor boats used in dynamite fishing," Felix explained.

The NCR-MPO has around 130 personnel tasked to monitor the seas of Manila Bay from Cavite to Pampanga.

Due to its vast "area of responsibility," the maritime police is in need of at least five new patrol boats to effectively cover its area of responsibility.

Felix said that a brand-new, fiber glass patrol boat costs around P100,000 and the support committed by Sandoval would be enough to also improve the dilapidated quarters and offices of his intelligence unit.

Smuggled goods intercepted

In a related development, Intelligence agents of the NCR-MPO based in the coastal town of Navotas intercepted a truckload of imported used clothing set to be shipped to the port of Cebu in an operation last Thursday at the port of Manila.

Felix said Ernie Dequino, the driver of the 10-wheeler truck hauling a 10-footer container van with body number IRNU 101577-6 has been also held for questioning.

At around 12:35 p.m., the Maritime police intelligence unit was tipped by an informant that a shipment of imported smuggled used clothing was about to be delivered to an anchored ship bound for Cebu at Pier 12 in Manila’s North Harbor.

Senior Inspector Melvin Laguros, NCR-MPO intelligence and investigation chief, with SPO2 Emilio Villanueva, led a six-man team that conducted a stakeout near the gate of Pier 12.

The operation resulted in the seizure of the illegal cargo.

The driver, when asked to present documents for the shipment, failed to show any, prompting the officers to apprehend him and impounded the shipment as well as the truck.

"This is in line with the government’s intensified drive against smugglers that use the port of Manila as transshipment point," Felix told The STAR.

He said that importing used clothing is not illegal, but using the goods for commercial purposes is against the law.

"We have gathered that the shipment was intended for ukay-ukay stores in Cebu," Felix said.

The Maritime cops said they waited until 1 p.m. last Friday for any claimants of the seized cargo, but nobody came.

"Whoever owns the shipment, could be testing the waters if they can succeed in their illegal operation," Laguros said.

The Maritime police turned over the seized cargo to the Bureau of Customs.