THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said the Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Tubbataha (MRRV-4401), anchored at DPWH Panacan, is scheduled to transport ballot boxes and other election-related paraphernalia to Balut Island this Month.
This was according to Coast Guard Captain Garry Laynesa, executive officer of BRP Tubbataha, as requested by the Commission on Election (Comelec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide security on the transport of the items along seawater.
The BRP Tubbataha, the lead ship of the Parola-class patrol vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has been docked in Panacan since August and conducts security patrol along the coastline of Davao Gulf during Kadayawan.
Laynesa said the ship is a law enforcement vessel and is designed to conduct environmental and humanitarian missions, as well as maritime security operations and patrol missions, which are what they are doing in the region.
He also revealed they also conducted a security patrol a few months ago after a report was received that a group of armed men onboard a motorized banca was spotted at the beach resorts in Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental.
Accordingly, the said armed men just passed by and left the area.
For now, the ship is currently docked at DPWH Panacan and continues to conduct maritime security patrol operations to deter threats.
Moreover, the BRP Tubbataha patrol vessel is 44 meters long and has a depth of four meters. Its maximum approximate speed is 25 knots. Around 40 PCG personnel manned the ship.
