The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M Abu participated in the 7th Contact Group on Sulu and Celebes Seas (CGSCS) in Makati City on 28-June-2022.

The Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) initiates CGSCS every two years. It brought together PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Abu; Indonesian Maritime Agency (BAKAMLA) Chief Laksamana Madya TNI Aan Kurnia S. Sos; and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director, General Dato Mohd Zubil bin Mat Som.

This joint participation aims to deepen cooperation and intensify responses against maritime crime in the tri-border area.

During the meeting, the PCG Commandant said Malaysia and Indonesia are the Philippines’ good neighbors that share a rich common history as maritime nations. He also expressed the need for the three (3) countries to enhance their efforts in combatting maritime threats.

Moreover, the CG Admiral Abu reiterated the PCG’s commitment to working with regional counterparts in addressing piracy and armed robbery, particularly in Sulu and the Celebes Seas, as they seek to strengthen Coast Guard presence and maritime security operations in the region.

Established in 2018, the CGSCS serves as a platform for sharing information, strengthening regional collaboration, discussing key maritime crime trends, and addressing existing and emerging maritime security threats in Sulu-Celebes Sea region.

[Photo Credit: CG SN2 MP Malnegro / CGPA]