The Western Mindanao Command ( WestMinCom) wants large fishing fleets here to be enlisted with naval reserves to help secure the vast southern Philippine sea waters against terrorists and pirates. WestMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the registration of fishing companies “will strongly assist small motorized fishing vessels of the Philippine Navy ( PN) and Philippine Coast Guard ( PCG) in securing the big maritime domain in Mindanao.” The main objective of the call for help “is to improve the region’s peaceful and progressive condition,” Sobejana explained during a Maritime Security and Economic Forum attended by leaders of local governments units ( LGUs) of the island provinces of Sulu, Tawi- Tawi and Basilan as well as by executives of Zamboangabased fishing industries.

Rimando, A. P. (2019, October 29). WestMin Com asks fishing firms' help. The Manila Times, p. A7.