US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. visits Palawan to turn over sophisticated patrol boats to the Philippine National Police Special Boat Unit. The boats, combined with training and other equipment and facilities, will further enhance the PNP’s maritime security capabilities. Photo courtesy of the US Embassy
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police Special Boat Unit (SBU) on Thursday received more maritime equipment from the United States, a move aimed at “enhancing maritime law enforcement and interception” in the country.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. traveled to Palawan Thursday to award the equipment, which included two police patrol boats, two boat-towing heavy-duty pick-up trucks, and an outstation in Balabac, Palawan, the US embassy in Manila said in a statement.
It noted that the awarding was a “significant milestone” for the SBU, a collaborative project between the PNP and the US Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) that aims at creating a modern police unit fully capable of enforcing maritime law.
Since it began operating in 2010, the unit made more than 200 arrests at sea related to crimes such as illegal fishing, harvesting of environmental products and animals, cigarette smuggling, petroleum smuggling, and possession of illegal drugs and weapons, the embassy said.
It added that 17 vessels and a variety of contraband amounting to over $1.1 million had been seized by the unit. The PNP special unit had also evacuated more than 160 people, and rescued more than 50 people, including victims of human trafficking.
“These accomplishments are an important reminder to me of why we continue to invest in the PNP Special Boat Unit to fight transnational crime, combat the scourge of human trafficking, save lives and protect the environment,” said Thomas.
“This partnership has greatly increased the capabilities of the Philippine authorities to confront longstanding transnational organized criminal activity,” he added.
The embassy said that the US government’s donation to the SBU project would be amounting to P380M in the next coming months. The donations included six patrol boats, construction and upgrades to the SBU headquarters facility, the creation of the new Balabac Outstation, operational equipment and hours of training.
It said that two additional police stations would also be constructed in Taganak and Bongao, Tawi Tawi.
The ceremony for the awarding of the facilities was attended by Police Director Samuel Diciano, deputy Chief for PNP Operations, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn , Balabac Mayor Shuaib Astam, and other members of the PNP, Philippines and US armed forces.