The syndicate group tasked to design the
National Action Plan on Preventing and Suppressing Acts of Piracy and Armed
Robbery Against Ships adopted the proposed Plan of
Action crafted through an interagency cooperation which was led by the Maritime
Ocean Affairs Center (MOAC) Department of Foreign Affairs with the following
amendments and recommendations:
On the appropriate title of the National Plan of Action,
it was decided to change the title “ National Plan of
Action against Piracy on the High Seas and Armed Robbery Against Ships” with
“National Action Plan on Preventing and Suppressing Acts of Piracy and Armed
Robbery Against Ships.” It was contended that the term “high seas” is limiting.
It was explained that piracy as defined in the UNCLOS which limits acts piracy
to those committed only in the high seas will not cover acts of piracy and
armed robbery against ships committed in the internal waters of the
Philippines, which is believed to be a more common occurrence.
A portion of the proposed plan of action was decided
to be deleted to avoid possible confusion among the readers and implementers of
the plan of action. This portion covers sub-title “PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS”
under C, LEGAL MATTERS, under part III, PHILIPPINE LAWS WITH REGARD TO PIRACY
up to the last paragraph immediately before part IV, PROGRAM OF ACTION.
The Philippine Rescue Coordinating Center of the Air
Transportation Office (ATO)/Department of Transportation and Communication
(DOTC) was included in the list of agencies involved in prevention and
suppression of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships. This will become
letter C of number 2, DESIGNATED AUTHORITIES; under sub-title LAW ENFORCEMENT,
of Part IV, PROGRAMS OF ACTIONS.
On the list of action agencies against piracy, the
Philippine Rescue Coordinating Center, with telephone numbers 832-3013 and
759-9502-03, the
On specific recommendations, the following action
points were proposed:
1)
The possibility of including acts of piracy and armed robbery against
ships to the definition or scope of terrorism must be looked into.
2)
Identify the types of ships which should be required to use Automatic
Tracking Device before a license to operate is issued to ship owners.
3)
On information Exchange:
·
Access
of relevant data, including operation and research studies, should be accessed
from the IMO/IMB. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through MOAC, which
has access to the data of IMO/IMB must serve as the
repository and primary agent for the dissemination of data to all government
agencies.
·
Identification
of other areas of research on piracy must be explored.
4)
On legal matters:
·
The
Department of Justice shall compile, reproduce, and disseminate relevant laws
and legal instruments to all government agencies which would need them.
·
The
Institute for International and legal Studies (IILS) and the Department of
Justice (DOJ) should study the possibility of harmonizing procedures with
regard to the prosecution of pirates.
·
A
study on the factors which hinders prosecution of pirates, such as factors
which discourage witnesses of crimes of piracy to testify in courts should be
conducted.
5)
On
law enforcement matters, current operation procedures, SOP’s, and ROE, should
be evaluated and regularly reviewed and updated.
6)
On
·
The
Department of Justice shall design training on investigation and proper
handling of evidence for law enforcers.
·
A
seminar –workshop designed to identify available equipment and technology,
including database technology, needed by action agencies must be conducted. The
assistance of National Telecommunication Company must be solicited in this
regard.
·
Officers
who are sent abroad for training must be required to echo their training to
fellow officers.
·
Regularly
update training program, preparedness plan and other related programs.
7)
On Inter-agency cooperation
·
Institutionalization of inter-agency cooperation on
law enforcement, conduct
of research and training, and on the conduct of simulation exercises through
MOA’s and MOU’s should be undertaken.
·
Tap
the assistance of NGO’s and
8)
On Database development
·
MOAC
will convene an inter-agency meeting to discuss the MOU on data-basing which it
has crafted, for further improvement and subsequent adoption.
·
Conduct
Seminar-Workshop on data-basing
·
Identify
existing systems for data-basing
·
Seek
assistance of government and non-government agencies which have the technology
and expertise on dash your hopes
9)
On Public Awareness
·
The
Philippine Coast Guard must design a communication plan and advocacy program
aimed at enhancing public awareness on piracy.
·
The
Philippine Information Agency must be consulted to assist in the implementation
of public awareness programs which will be designed by concerned agencies.
·
The
Philippine Center on Transnational Crime must establish a reward system to
motivate the public to provide pertinent information which could contribute to
the solution of the problems of piracy. The possibility of creating a trust
fund for this purpose must be explored.
·
Create
an anti-piracy public awareness website
While the syndicate group has decided to adopt the
proposed plan of action, it was acknowledge that further refinements of the
plan have to be made. The identification of the specific roles of action
agencies involved in anti-piracy activities and programs is one of the
immediate concerns which the concerned agencies must do. Delineation of
functions/roles of the different agencies is imperative for a more concentrated
efforts and a more cost-effective action for the prevention and suppression of
acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships.