US Coast Guard to send maritime law enforcement experts to Palawan

PNP Director General Roland "Bato" dela Rosa (first from left, first line) was guest of honor and speaker during the transfer of the Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center on August 4 at Sito Magarwak, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section.)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Aug. 8 – The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is sending a team of maritime law enforcement experts to Palawan for a week-long workshop that will focus on sharing best practices and enhancing interoperability.

This is according to a media release by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy Tuesday afternoon.

The workshop will be with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy (PN), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

It will focus on sharing best practices and enhancing the interoperability among the three participating agencies in support of the National Coast Watch System 2017 Field Training Exercises scheduled to take place in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu in mid-September.

“As strong allies, the U.S. and Philippines share a wide range of interests, and we will continue to work in partnership to ensure our joint maritime security efforts and other lines of cooperation are robust and effective,” the statement said.

The information came after U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski transferred custody of a brand new Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center (JMLETC) valued at over Php65.4-million to the the Philippines in a ceremony at Sitio Magarwak, Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, on August 4, 2017.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald M. de la Rosa was the guest of honor and keynote speaker, and Klecheski also delivered remarks during the turnover.

The JMLETC, funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (USDTRA), is part of the larger National Coast Watch System (NCWS) designed to bolster the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities and to stop large-scale weapons from transiting through or near Philippine territorial waters.

The facility will also be used to conduct maritime law enforcement training for the PCG, PN, and PNP to enhance vessel boarding, use of force, evidence preservation, and case package preparation techniques.  (PNA)