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Welcome ceremonies at the Philippine National Police Academy FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino believes it is high time to strengthen the Maritime Command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of the country’s efforts to assert its rights and jurisdiction over its maritime domain, particularly the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking before PNP officers and cadets at Camp General Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite this morning, Tolentino expressed his full support to bolster the structure and capabilities of the PNP Maritime Command to help patrol our seas.
READ: Tolentino: Signing of two PH maritime laws a victory for every Filipino
“I am for a stronger PNP Maritime Command, which will have regional headquarters in Luzon in the province Mindoro Oriental, Visayas in the province Cebu, and Mindanao in the province of Sulu,” said Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones.
“These three regional headquarters can help reinforce our Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard in dealing with current challenges in our maritime zones, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” the senator emphasized.
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In addition, Tolentino called on the leadership of the PNP Academy, led by Police Brigadier General Christopher Birung, as well as its dean of academics and corps professors to include in the academy’s curriculum the study of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12604) and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (12605).
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“These laws can be taught as an elective subject, so that our police cadets, who will become officials of the PNP in the future, will learn at a young age the importance of protecting our seas and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country,” he explained.
Tolentino is the principal author of the two landmark laws signed recently by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
The senator was the PNPA’s guest of honor on Wednesday morning at the inauguration of the newly built PNP Amphitheatre and at the opening ceremonies of this year’s Cadet Corps Intramurals held at the PNPA Grandstand.
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