Authorities call for registration of motorized bancas

Authorities are calling for the registration of motorized bancas for easy monitoring and prevention of the vessels from being used in the perpetration of crimes.

The call arose from the kidnapping incident in the Island Garden City of Samal where three foreigners and a Filipina were abducted at a resort and brought to Sulu onboard a motorized banca.

The banca was said to have been purchased in Samal for P300,000.

Police Regional Office 11 spokesman Supt. Antonio Rivera said they are now checking the information. He however refused to give any details.

Philippine Coast Guard Davao Commodore Joselito dela Cruz meanwhile suggested for the registration of motorized bancas. He said that like carnapped vehicles, boats can also be used in criminalities thus the need to have a system for easy identification and monitoring.

He also called on the local government units to be aggressive in the registration of motorized bancas in their respective AORs.

Commodore dela Cruz said that they are presently conducting seaborne operations with Task Force Samal to secure the resorts in Samal after the September 21 kidnapping.

He said the resort owners themselves are now initiating the implementation of tight security measures in the island to ensure that the kidnapping incident would not happen again.

Dela Cruz said that prior to the kidnapping, resort owners are hardly coordinating with the authorities in the security measures of the island.

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