Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

PNP activates Special Boat Unit

Posted on September 6, 2009

PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — THE Philippine National Police Maritime Group formally activated last week its Special Boat Unit with the completion of its headquarters and boatyard facilities in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

“This is a dream come true,” said PNP chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa as he joined United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and top PNP-MARIG officials led by Chief Supt. Villamor A. Bumanglag in formally opening the facilities located in a 2,000-square meter lot in Barangay Sta. Lourdes.

Verzosa said the Special Boat Unit will strengthen the capabilities of the PNP-MARIG in enforcing maritime and environmental laws and other police functions against insurgency and terrorism.

Ambassador Kenney cited the importance of “doing things together, sharing experiences, expertise and resources” when she spoke at the opening of the facilities.

“The SBU has become an example of effective collaboration to protect the country, keep sea lanes open, promote the rule of law and respect for human rights and safeguard the environment,” Kenney said.

The MARIG Special Boat Unit is the equivalent of the elite Navy Special Warfare Group with its commandos on a 24-hour alert to respond to any emergency at sea.

According to Bumanglag, US-trained seaborne commandos led the training and selection of the first 40 members of MARIG unit who were chosen from 97 officers who completed a MARIG field training program in Puerto Princesa City.

“We have chosen the best and the brightest among new MARIG officers,” said Bumanglag.

The graduates underwent a special boat handling and navigation course under the supervision of US-trained instructors who are experts in counter-terrorism, deep-sea diving and search-and rescue operations.

The new commandos will perform rescue, relief and retrieval operations and respond to any criminal and terrorist activities at sea including piracy, smuggling and sea jacking.

Verzosa is fast-tracking efforts to fully modernize the 1,400-strong MARIG.

Former MARIG director, now Police Regional Office 9 director Chief Supt. Angelo H. Sunglao, said the PNP leadership’s Integrated Transformation Program must be credited for the modernization plan of MARIG.

The MARIG is also expecting the arrival of six brand-new 18-meter long rigid inflatable boats donated by the United States government. There are also plans to procure more patrol boats, rescue vessels, diving gears and underwater cameras.

Out of the 34 brand-new patrol boats procured by the MARIG in 1995, only seven are fully operational. Ten are already beyond economical repair while the rest are no longer ideal for use at sea.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme