Westmincom welcomes MNLF help to find abducted physician

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) welcomed on Thursday the help of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to rescue a physician seized by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Sulu.

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Westmincom spokesperson, said they welcome any assistance from all stakeholders to rescue Dr. Daniel Moreno who was seized by ASG gunmen from his clinic in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu, on February 4.

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Source: pna.gov.ph

Coast Guard probes foreign ship for violating PH quarantine rule

DETAINED. The 'MV Harmony 6' is held at the anchorage area of Poro Point in La Union after its captain allegedly lied about their date of departure from China. Photo from Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard says the captain of the Panama-flagged MV Harmony 6 declared that they left Changzhou, China, on February 10, when the ship’s real departure date was February 18. The ship arrived in La Union on February 23.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is investigating a foreign cargo vessel for allegedly violating the Philippines’ 14-day quarantine rule amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilio said that PCG Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia ordered the investigation of the Panama-flagged MV Harmony 6, which arrived at Poro Point in La Union on February 23.

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Source: rappler.com

ASG to demand P30-million ransom for 5 Indonesian captives

By Nonoy Lacson 

ZAMBOANGA CITY –  Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chair Yusop Jikiri Friday revealed that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)  will be demanding  P30 million from the employer of the five Indonesian nationals in Malaysia for their immediate release from captivity.

Jikiri said the MNLF has received reliable information that the ASG will demand P30 million from the fishing company where the five work as fishermen in Malaysia.

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Source: news.mb.com.ph

‘Doctor kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf to treat sick Abu Sayyaf leader’

Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Abu Sayyaf bandits kidnapped a doctor in Sulu last week to treat their leader, who is suffering from tuberculosis.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, said Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan needs immediate medical assistance.

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Source: philstar.com

ReCAAP reports further incidents in Singapore Strait

On 9 Feb 20, two incidents occurred within an interval of an hour to ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. Some engine spares were stolen in one incident, and nothing was reported stolen in the other. There was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew. With these two incidents, a total of six incidents have been reported in the Singapore Strait since January 2020, all in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait.

The ReCAAP ISC had issued five Incident Alerts in 2019 and one Incident Alert in 2020 on incidents occurred to ships while underway in the eastbound lane of Singapore Strait. A total of 31 incidents have been reported in the Singapore Strait in 2019. Of these, 17 occurred to ships while underway in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strait, and 14 incidents in the westbound lane.

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Source: recaap.org

Maritime Security Task Force plans to restructure amid rise in piracy in Singapore Strait

Republic of Singapore Navy mine countermeasures vessels RSS Katong (M107) and RSS Bedok (M105) at Changi Naval Base, Singapore, via Wikipedia

Fabian Koh

SINGAPORE – The Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) plans to restructure to deal with piracy at sea, including beefing up its assets, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (Feb 3).

“That review is expected to be complete in the next few months,” he said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC).

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Source: straitstimes.com