Philippine, Vietnam to sign pact strengthening maritime law enforcement

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine and Vietnamese maritime authorities will sign next week an agreement to strengthen maritime law enforcement in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant, Admiral Ramon Liwag.

Liwag said on Saturday the memorandum of agreement would be signed during the state visit of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang from October 26 to 28.

“We expect next week that the PCG would sign an agreement with the Vietnam marine police on exchanging information to improve maritime law enforcement between the two countries,” Liwag said in an interview.

“Vietnam and the Philippines will help each other in environmental protection and if any of our nationals go into their waters and vice versa,” he added.

Liwag said the agreement would ensure that Filipino fishermen nabbed in Vietnamese waters or Vietnamese fishermen arrested in Philippine territory would be tried quickly.

“So both sides will also have to inform their citizens not to violate the law. We need to intensify that,” he added.

The maritime authorities of the two countries signed an agreement, in 2010, on search and rescue missions and in preventing oil spills.