Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – Combined elements of the 112th Marine Company and the PNP Turtle Islands seized one foreign vessel and one local vessel perpetrating illegal activities in Lihiman Island, Taganak, Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi .
According to Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, Commander of Joint Task Force, Tawi-Tawi personnel from the Taganak Municipal Police Station received information stating that an illegal loading of diesel is being undertaken in the abovementioned barangay.
Troops of the 112th Marine Company, together with the Maritime Police and the PNP Turtle Islands, conducted a joint Maritime Security Patrol to validate the information.
While approaching the target area, operating troops sighted two vessels anchored thereat, one was a foreign vessel named “Marnia Penang” and the other was a local vessel named Jaslyn Stacy Legazpi.
Initial investigation revealed that Marnia Penang sailed from Deojor, Malaysia with 16 crew members onboard to illegally unload 400,000 liters of diesel to the local vessel from Navotas, Metro Manila.
According to reports , Jaslyn Stacy Legazpi has 13 crew members onboard. The vessels were anchored at the seawaters of Lihiman Island for three days before the apprehension.
Rodrigo Sarol, the boat captain and manager of the motor tanker “Jaslyn Stacy Legazpi” revealed the vessel linked up with the foreign vessel in the area to load diesel, and they are still waiting for another vessel loaded with additional 200,000 liters of diesel to arrive.
Operating troops escorted the intercepted vessels to Taganak Pier and turned them over to the Philippine Coast Guard in Turtle Islands for proper disposition.
“We do not tolerate any illegal activity in our area of operation. I commend all those concerned citizens who bravely feed us information regarding the illegal activities conducted in their locality. Rest assured that the Western Mindanao Command, through its joint task forces and Navy component units, will remain steadfast in curbing maritime crimes and other illegal activities,” WestMinCom Commander, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
