THE PHILIPPINE Navy is augmenting its sea assets in Mindanao as part of beefing up security in the country’s south. Vice-Admiral Ronald Joseph S. Mercado, flag officer-in-command of the military unit, last week said about 30 speed boats will be deployed for patrol operations in the seawaters around Mindanao. Mr. Mercado said the national government has allocated funds for 10 new speed boats while the 20 others will come from the Philippine Marines. “What we are trying to do is to improve the maritime surveillance,” he said. The Navy recently deployed faster vessels that are easier to operate and equipped with modern radars that can identify other vessels. Mr. Mercado, however, admitted that it is difficult to fully secure the Mindanao waters because these are “very porous” that even the more modern navies of neighboring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have also been finding it hard securing areas within their boundaries. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR