March 08, 2009 07:58 PM Sunday [ journal.com.ph ]
By: Emil G. Gamos
HAGONOY, Bulacan -- Bad news for lawless elements and illegal fishers operating along the coastal areas of this province within Manila Bay.
The 18th Special Forces of the Riverine Company of the Philippine Army based in this town now has 10 new fast sea crafts at their disposal for patrol and security operations at the coastal shorelines and remote coastal villages of Bulacan along the mouth of Manila Bay.
Maj. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, Commanding Officer of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said that the boats have a maximum speed of 35 knots and loading capacity of 15 people.
“These fast sea crafts can cover a wide area along Manila Bay at any given time and can also be used in relief and rescue operations in times of calamities,” Villanueva, who together with Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Allen B. Bantolo, Hagonoy Mayor Angel Cruz, Obando Mayor Orencio Gabriel, Malolos City Information Officer Juvic Degala (representing Malolos City Mayor Danilo Domingo and police chiefs of the coastal towns of Hagonoy, Paombong, Buakan, Malolos and Obando made a one day “familiarization” tour of the far-flung coastal villages accessible only by motorized boats last Friday.
Villanueva said the fast sea crafts can also be used by the police and local government units in their internal security strategies along the coastal areas of Manila Bay.
Bantolo said the fast boats are very effective in catching illegal fishermen and other bandits operating along the coastal areas.
He said that last month, combined elements of 18th Special Forces of the Army’s Riverine Company under Lt. Almirante Mijares, the 305th Provincial Mobile Group led by Supt. Manuel M. Lukban Jr. and Senior Inspector Isagani Enriquez and the Hagonoy police headed by Supt. Myrna Reyes on board the said sea crafts caught 22 illegal fishermen using dynamites after a 1 hour chase along Manila bay.
“Mabilis na napaligiran ng tropa ng pamahalaan ang mga illegal na mangingisda dahil sa mga bagong sasakyang pandagat ng Philippine Army. Malaki din ang maitutulong nito hindi lang sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at katahimikan sa lugar, magagamit din ito sa pangangalaga ng ating karagatan na siyang pinagmumulan ng ikinabubuhay ng mga mangingisda at ng mga mamamayang naninirahan sa mga coastal villages sa Manila Bay,” Bantolo said.
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