Police are mulling to establish a team of sea marshals who will be deployed to secure commercial vessels plying routes within Central Visayas, said the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).

According to BPPO deputy director for operations Supt. Lorenzo Batuan, they are set to coordinate with shipping companies in the region to lay out the plan.

The police, military, Coast Guard and the Philippine Ports Authority in particular were tapped by the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) to organize the implementation.

On Thursday last week, the PPOC and PADAC passed a resolution pushing for the initiative which would require marshals to be on seaborne trips.

For his part, BPPO operations officer Sr. Insp. Vincent Dumaguing earlier noted that the measure would intensify security forces’ monitoring capabilities on passengers who enter the province.

It is also intended to provide additional security mid-sea during the trip of  commercial vessels, he added.

The planned deployment of sea marshals was first brought up during the previous command conference of the Police Regional Office 7.

Authorities came up with the plan in a bid to heighten the drive against terrorism and drug trafficking following the entry of Abu Sayyaf Group bandits into Bohol in April. (Rey Tutas)