Coast Guard readies vessels for the elections

Two vessels, seven patrol boats, and other small craft have been prepared as part of efforts to ensure credible, honest, and peaceful elections, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The BRP [Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas] San Juan and the BRP Pampanga and one transport vessel — the BRP Corregidor — and two monitoring, control, and survey (MCS) ships were also alerted, the PCG said in a statement. The three mentioned vessels are expected to patrol areas near and within the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes Manila, the Philippine capital, the Coast Guard said. Seven patrol boats and seven small craft are ready to be deployed, the PCG said. In the same statement, the Coast Guard has also alerted all its units to ensure successful elections. A directive issued by Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, who is also PCG commandant, instructed PCG’s Commanders to heighten vigilance and preparedness and to coordinate with officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially regarding election-related activities within their areas of responsibility. A PCG contingent will join the launch of Task Force Hope with PNP, AFP and COMELEC personnel in La Union. A Deployable Response Group composed of security personnel from Sea Marshal, Special Operations Group, K-9 units and Quick Reaction teams are on heightened alert and are ready for deployment to augment security personnel from PNP and AFP, the PCG chief said. The Coast Guard Sea Marshal has secured the transport of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in Northern Luzon, Tamayo said. Based on the sea marshal report in Batanes, 36 PCOS machines on board M/V Saber finally arrived on Sunday and is expected to be delivered to Itbayat and Sabtang towns and other islands soon. The Coast Guard’s Command Center also said that its districts, stations, and detachments will closely monitor all nationwide ports especially sea-based travel is on peak season. The Command Center will continue a twenty-four hour watch to ensure safety and security of passengers. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV