No more ransom abductions at Sulu-Celebes Seas: Report

A library photo shows a US Navy vessel sailing off Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. 

(Photo by Al Jacinto)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The ReCAAP has noticed that threat on abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas remained low and there has been no incident due to the successful military operations and robust law enforcement initiatives by the Philippines.

ReCAAP, short for “Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia” said it has updated its advisory to all ships to “exercise vigilance and adopt necessary preventive measures while transiting the area.”

 

The latest notice was released publicly by ReCAAP after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) having reviewed and recommended further downgrading of the threat level of abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes seas.

 

However, it said that ships are to maintain communication with the authorities and report all incidents to the Operation Centers of the Philippines and ESSCOM or the Eastern Sabah Security Command, a Malaysian security area that covers 1,400 km of the east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau.

 

It said that in the event that the ship master or crew is unable to establish contact with the Operation Centers of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard Command Center can be contacted to report any incident.

 

ReCAAP said the security measures undertaken by the Philippines in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces, with the conduct of continuous military operations and dismantling the support base of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu archipelago, ensures the likelihood of the end of the group through surrender, arrest, and neutralization.

 

“The PCG, coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts that have vital involvement in the maritime security of the Sulu-Celebes Seas, reviewed the threat situation and recommended downgrading the present threat level of ‘abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ from ‘moderate to moderate low, which implies that incidents are unlikely to occur due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to orchestrate an attack. Nevertheless, minimal damages are expected to the vessel and crew in case of an attack,” ReCAAP said in its latest advisory.

 

It said with the concerted efforts undertaken by the Philippine and Malaysian authorities, no abduction of crew incidents was reported since January 2020; and no crew is presently held in captivity by Abu Sayyaf.

 

ReCAAP is the first government-to-government agreement that addresses the incidence of piracy and armed robbery in Asia.

The Philippine military has recently declared Sulu as Abu Sayyaf-free following the mass surrender of its members and the continued campaign against terrorism in the region. The province is now peaceful and has attracted many local tourists and foreigners who travelled in groups. (Mindanao Examiner)