Piracy in Asia: A situation report

A little-known success story?

Despite ongoing incidents of piracy in Asia, international co-operation efforts are having genuine success at containing the issue. Various policy initiatives are showing promise for the security of the region’s sea lanes, now and into the future, Sam Bateman writes.

Since I wrote on the subject of piracy in Asia for Policy Forum in 2016, the situation has shown marked improvement. According to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), there were 76 incidents in Asia in 2018 as compared with 203 in 2015. In the first nine months of 2019, 54 incidents occurred in the region as compared with 64 in the same period of 2018, a significant drop by any measure.

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Source: policyforum.net

PH, Indonesia to renew commitment in watching over Sulu-Celebes Sea

By Betheena Kae Unite

Maritime security concerns in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, like kidnap for ransom and terrorism, are expected to be addressed as the Philippines and Indonesia renew their commitment to enforce security in the said sea.

The Philippines, through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Indonesia, through the Indonesian Maritime Security Force also known as Humas Bakamla RI (BAKAMLA), aim to intensify maritime security cooperation through the re-signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with implementing arrangement (IA) that will be held in Bali, Indonesia next year.

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Source: news.mb.com.ph

Duterte orders additional troops deployment to thwart Islamic threats in Mindanao

By Genalyn Kabiling

To thwart any threat from Islamic State-linked militants, President Duterte has ordered the deployment of more battalions to help keep peace and security in Mindanao.

The President said he had asked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to send 20 to 35 battalions from the Philippine Army, admitting he was worried that ISIS threat in Sulu might spill over to other parts of Mindanao.

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Source: news.mb.com.ph

Duterte to PH Navy: Kill pirates, ‘blow them until kingdom come’

The president mentions working with Indonesia and Malaysia to protect the seas from pirates, amid warming ties with China which is occupying the West PH Sea

Lian Buan

MANILA, Philippines – In alleging that much of the Philippines’ drug problem is brought about by piracy in the seas, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday, November 30, that he was ordering the Philippine Navy to kill pirates if they spot them.

“My orders to the Navy, I repeat my orders to the Navy, if they are positive that they are pirates, you blow them [until] kingdom come, patayin mo na lahat at matapos na ang problema ko at ng Pilipinas and so with the drugs (kill them all so all my problems and the Philippines’ problems will all go away, and so with the drugs),” Duterte said on Saturday at the celebration of Andres Bonifacio’s 156th birth anniversary.

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Source: rappler.com

Duterte wants West African pirates holding PH sailors blasted to death

By: Darryl John Esguerra

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would order the Philippine Navy to search and “blast” pirates, weeks after 11 Filipino sailors were reportedly abducted in separate incidents in waters off the West African nations of Togo and Benin.

“I will send the Navy there, kapag nakita nila ‘yung mga…patayin nalang nila. Tabla-tabla na lang (…if they spot those pirates, kill them),” Duterte said during the awarding ceremony for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities in Malacañang.

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Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Duterte issues travel warning for Zamboanga

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged tourists not to travel to Zamboanga for now as he raised the atrocities committed by the Abu Sayyaf against foreigners.

Duterte gave the statement at the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Pasay City which was attended by health experts in the region.

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Source: gmanetwork.com