Somalis want RP help to fight pirates

MANILA, Philippines - A high-level Somali delegation is expected to arrive in the country this month to meet with officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and discuss measures on how to improve the campaign against sea piracy.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they have been informed that Somali Deputy Prime Minister and concurrent Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Abdurahman Aden Ibrahim Ibbi would lead the delegation.

He would be accompanied by Somali Navy commander Admiral Farah Ahmed Omar and Somali Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamud Olow Barow.

It was reported that the PCG would be giving training seminars but there are no details on whether a selected PCG team would be sent to Somalia to spearhead the training.

“These things would still have to be discussed,” said PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo.

However, if it turns out that the PCG would be sending a team to train their counterparts in Somalia, Balilo said they might select personnel from their Special Operations Group (SOG) and their Anti-Terrorism Team.

“If ever, this would be the first time that we would be sending PCG personnel abroad to train Coast Guards of other countries,” Balilo added.

The visit of the Somali officials was in response to the invitation earlier extended by President Arroyo to Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed during the African Union Special Summit in Tripoli last August for the Philippines to train the Somali Coast Guard and Civil Service.

Tamayo earlier said that there have been few recorded cases of sea piracy and robbery of ships in the Philippines.

Compared to last year, the PCG said there was a 60 percent decline in the number of cases of sea piracy this year.

The PCG chief said they would be sharing with delegates from the African country information and strategies they could adopt to help improve their campaign against sea pirates.

“Monitoring is very important and they can ask for the support of other countries when it comes to this matter. They should also deploy ships in areas where acts of piracy have been reported,” Tamayo said.

He suggested that the Somali Coast Guard could also beef up its communications equipment and “conduct on board inspection of fishing boats to see if there are any firearms on board and if these were accompanied by permits.”

Sea pirates roaming off the Somali coast have long been preying on passing foreign vessels. They would abduct the ship’s officers and crew and then demand ransom for their release, he said. - Evelyn Macairan