Coast Guard beefs up port security after Jolo bombings

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Negros Occidental is on red alert, following the recent twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu that claimed more than 10 lives and injured nearly 80 civilians, including police officers and military soldiers.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Negros Occidental head, said their alert status followed directives from the PCG national headquarters.

Under the red alert status, intensified security border check in all major ports in the province will be conducted, Benjamin said.

Benjamin said floating assets will strengthen its maritime patroling to check all possible entry and exit points.

The leave credits of PCG personnel were also cancelled, as most of them will be deployed to secure the ports, he added.

He said they also have close coordination with the police, Army, and other law enforcement agencies for any eventualities.

Although there are no major threats to Visayas, Benjamin said they will strengthen the presence of Coast Guard personnel in ports and beef up their intelligence monitoring with other local authorities.

The PCG in the province has 146 personnel.

In case there is a need for augmentation, Coast Guard auxiliaries and the 1,000 trainees in Hinoba-an town are enough to support the agency.