In lieu of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, Lieutenant Commander Restituto Concio Jr. of the Philippine Coast Guard in Davao announces that they will be conducting random checks on sea vessels, both foreign and domestic that will dock on Davao City. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – Both foreign and domestic vessels will undergo random inspections for illegal drugs and other contraband to be conducted by the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG).
PCG Davao Acting Station Commander Restituto Concio Jr., said in a press conference on Tuesday, July 6 that the inspections will not only be for the safety aspect of the ships, but for law enforcement purposes, adding that they have already coordinated with other units of the city’s ports.
He said that they will also be using their narcotic detection canines to intensify the inspections in response to the anti-illegal drug campaign, as well as a part of the coast guard directive from higher headquarters in Manila.
“We will try our best na macover din yung galing sa mga areas na alam nating pinagmumulan ng drugs (We will try our best to cover especially those areas where we know drugs are transported from),” he said.
Aside from using the canines, six speed boats and a 35-meter 3501 BRP Ilocos Norte search and rescue vessel will be included in Davao’s maritime security.
Concio added that the PCG is expecting the arrival of the first of 10 44-meter multi-role response vessels from Japan in September this year.
He said that they will also deploy floating assets in “Panacañang”, the guest house located inside the compound of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Barangay Panacan which is being used by President Rodrigo Duterte for his meetings.
The floating assets will include the BRP Ilocos Norte vessel and the speed boats which can accommodate as many as 50 personnel when needed by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) if President Duterte holds meetings there.
Meanwhile, the process to conduct drug-testing among the PCG personnel is on-going, as they are still coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). (davaotoday.com)
