BREAKING GROUND FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT --- Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn (center) and Mr. Ricard Miller (2nd from right), project manager from the US International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) lower the time capsule of the 3-storey PNP Special Boat Unit (SBU) Headquarters on October 11, 2008 in Sitio Honda Bay, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City. The $460,000.00 SBU building and boat repair facility will rise in a 2,000 sqm. property donated by the City Government. The US-ICITAP is sponsoring building construction and acquisition of patrol boats. Witnessing the ceremony are Police Director LEOPOLDO N BATAOIL (2nd from left), Director for Police Community Relations, and Chief Supt ANGELO SUNGLAO, Director of the PNP Maritime Group.

The City of Puerto Princesa in Palawan formally turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) a 2,000-square meter property along the shores of Honda Bay that will be the center of maritime law enforcement in the region.    

On behalf of PNP Chief, Director General Jesus A Verzosa, PDir Leopoldo Bataoil, Director for Police Community Relations accepted the grant from Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward S Hagedorn. The site, located in Sitio Honda Bay, Barangay Sta Lourdes, will be the headquarters of the Special Boat Unit (SBU) of the PNP Maritime Group.     

 “It is an honor for the city of Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan to host the PNP Special Boat Unit that will provide security to our people and protect our environment,” Hagedorn said. 

The new police outfit will be the lead maritime law enforcement unit in the country that will primarily serve police seaborne functions of customs, immigration, quarantine and security.    

The 100 police personnel that will compose the SBU are undergoing training on maritime law enforcement, boatmanship and seaborne interdiction operations. The PNP has issued the SBU with basic equipment including handguns and assault rifles.     

According to Bataoil, aside from maritime law enforcement, the PNP SBU will also be involved in environmental protection and seaborne public safety operations.     

The US Department of State and Department of Justice, thru the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), has earmarked $460,000.00 for construction of the 3-storey SBU Headquarters. The US government has also granted the SBU P6-million worth of equipment consisting of six Rigid Buoyant Boats (RBB) with instruments and armaments. The RBBs can reach sustained top speed of 45 knots and will be deployed upon completion of training of SBU personnel and upon construction of support facilities.     

“The waters of Palawan and the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, bordered by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, are all part of international sea lanes that are vital to the economy of our three countries,” according to CSupt Angelo Sunglao, Director of the PNP Maritime Group.