BRP Malapascua to help secure southwest Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday deployed a new patrol vessel to guard against diversionary attacks by supporters of Islamic State-inspired terrorists.

 

PCG Capt. Ronnie Gavan, Coast Guard Southwestern Mindanao district commander, the district now has the BRP Malapascua to boost security in the area.

 

The district has jurisdiction over coast guard stations Zamboanga, Pagadian, Cotabato, Jolo, Mapun and Bongao.

 

Gavan said the deployment of BRP Malapascua will help against terror groups and criminals in the port city and in nearby areas.

 

The BRP Malapascua joins sister ship BRP Malabrigo in the PCG Southern Mindanao district.

 

The Malapascua was first deployed for security patrols during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Bohol in April and then later sent to patrol Benham Rise.

 

The two Coast Guard ships are Parola-class patrol vessels and are used as Multi-Role Response Vessels. They are part of a 10-ship class that the Japanese government is giving the Philippines through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

 

Another Parola-class vessel, the BRP Capones, arrived in the Philippines in May and will be commissioned into the Coast Guard fleet after it goes through sea trials.

 

“Our focus is to deny the lawless elements targeting Zamboanga city as their convenient space for conducting operations or as their gateway towards other areas,” Gavan said during a presentation and briefing with Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

 

Army Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of Joint Task Force Zamboanga, also said Monday that security forces are anticipating backlash from the sympathizers or supporters of the Maute terror group as fighting in Marawi is expected to wind down after more than two months of hostilities.

 

“We are busy preparing our ground in Zamboanga to whatever situation will result in Marawi. JTFZ is not bringing down it guard with or without Marawi,” Nicolas said during the same briefing.