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BRP-Bagacay (MRRV-4410) displays its firefighting capability at sea during the anti-terror operation and rescue capability exercise off Zamboanga City on Tuesday (April 2). (Photo by Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- It was a sunny day and the weather was calm when suddenly a distress call sounded on the marine band radio transceiver of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here.
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The call was from a commercial vessel’s skipper, who managed to make a distress
call, as armed pirates aboard a “jungkung” type motorboat intercepted them
while sailing east of Sibago Island in nearby Basilan province.
The pirates commandeered the commercial vessel, M/V Legend, while holding hostage all the crew aboard.
The 3rd Tactical Operations Wing (3rd TOW) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) dispatched a helicopter to conduct reconnaissance and confirmed that M/V Legend was hijacked following coordination from the Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao (CGDSWM).
This prompted the CGDSWM to dispatch three gunboats to pursue and to contain the movement of the commandeered passenger vessel.
In few minutes, the BRP-Bagacay (Multi-Role Response Vessel-4410); BRP-Panglao (Fast Patrol Boat-2402); and, BRP-Malamawi (FPB-2403) arrived east of Sibago and managed to kept M/V Legend in one location.
Immediately, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) convened and tried to negotiate for the safe release of the hostages but failed.
Two Rubberized Inflatable Boats with Coast Guard Anti-Terrorist Unit personnel aboard were dispatched to undertake a high-risk board and rescue mission as the CDRRMC made a critical decision and ordered the conduct of a rescue operation.
One of the hijackers was killed while four others were captured in the shootout when the anti-terror unit boarded the M/V Legend. The rescue operation secured the lives of the crew, although one of them was injured
The injured hostage was then taken to BRP-Bagacay and was provided first aid by Coast Guard paramedics. He was brought later to a hospital for medication.
Meanwhile, the M/V Legend caught fire while in transit to the local port but was immediately extinguished by firefighters aboard BRP-Bagacay, which has an off-shore firefighting capability.
Upon arrival at the port, the captured gunmen were turned over to the police for detention and filing of appropriate cases.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) boarded the M/V Legend and conducted on board investigation. The remains of the slain hijacker were turned over to a local funeral parlor for proper disposition.
All this formed part of the simulated scenarios when the CGDSWM on Tuesday conducted the Response Capability Exercise off the shore of Zamboanga City.
The exercise showcased the response capability of-of the CGDSWM floating assets and its personnel in line with its mandate to enforce all applicable maritime laws within the territorial waters of the Philippines.
“We have highly-trained personnel on how to address piracy and armed robbery (at sea),” said Commodore Joseph Coyme, CGDSWM commander.
“They are well-trained to conduct anti-terrorism, high-risk boarding and at the same time all the skills needed on board the vessel,” Coyme added.
The exercise is part of CGDSWM's 51st founding anniversary on April 5, anchored on the theme “strengthening maritime security efforts and intensifying law enforcement operations.” ( By Teofilo Garcia,Jr/PNA)
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