Coast Guard to secure Asean meetings

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to deploy today at least 200 personnel and 14 floating assets for maritime patrol behind the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where the 30th ASEAN summit would be held on April 26-29.

PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said Commodore Rolando Legaspi, NCR-Central Luzon PCG district commander, would head the Coast Guard’s Task Force.

“There would be a send-off of our floating assets today. The mission of the Coast Guard contingent is to protect the Manila Bay area and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the peace and order during the ASEAN meeting,” Balilo said. 

He said Legaspi would lead at least 200 of his men for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

“But we might send a bigger contingent. Our headquarters might decide to send more personnel and augment our team from NCR,” Balilo said.

The Coast Guard would be sending two of their big ships, the BRP Pampanga and the multi-role response vessel BRP Malabrigo, along with two patrol craft.

Ten deployable response vessels consisting of a mix of aluminum and rubber boats would also be patrolling the waters off Manila Bay. 

Balilo said they have issued a notice to mariners (NOTAM) declaring the area behind PICC as a no- fishing zone and no-sail zone during the summit.