NAVAL Forces and maritime agencies in Eastern Mindanao has conducted an inter-agency drills in Surigao del Norte province, officials said Monday.

“This is to improve interagency cooperation on maritime challenges,” said Joint Task Force Seahawk commander Commodore Carlos Sabarre.

Sabarre said the exercises was lead by NFEM which ran from Nov. 3 to 5, at Brgy Punta Bilar, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

“The exercises promote team effort and test the interoperability of agencies in maritime security operations,” said Sabarre.

Vessels from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, joined the exercise, which simulated smuggling and terrorism scenarios.

A team of Philippine Navy SEALs and various assets from the Navy, including the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), C90 aircraft, BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR702) joined the drills.

Sabarre added provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO), and the provincial protection and order vouncil (PPOC) all took part in the exercise.

He said that the capability demonstration capped off with a 2 scenarios issued communications and coordination– of participating vessels.

Sabarre said, the first scenario, AGR702 was monitored by the Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS) Surigao performing unusual voyage patterns 5 nautical miles off the coast of Punta Bilar waters and was subsequently reported to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) and Joint Task Force Seahawk.

Following coordination with the Coast Guard District North Eastern Mindanao, a radio challenge was initiated, to which the AGR702 failed to respond, resulting in the execution of a Maritime Interdiction Operation.

In the second scenario he said, the PNP Maritime in Surigao City reported that a number of armed men were spotted harboring a house in Brgy Punta Bilar, Surigao City, and were later confirmed to be violent extremists planning to disrupt the city's peace and order.

JTF Seahawk deployed Philippine Navy C90 Aircraft (NV394) to verify the situation, as well as BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) and MRRV4401 to conduct Maritime Patrol and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) as a proactive measure.

Upon inspection, it was discovered that the AGR702 was smuggling cocaine in and out of the country.

The inspection team of MRRV4401 seized the vessel and its crew, manned the ship and transported them to the nearest port for proper disposition.

With this information, JTF Seahawk dispatched the Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) team of Naval Special Operations Unit 7 (NAVSOU) for the execution of Special Operations (SPECOPS), eventually resulting in the neutralization of the enemies, including their leader.

However, 2 of their comrades escaped on a speedboat, and a Hot Pursuit Operation ensued that escalated in a firefight between the PNP MG RMU XIII and the fleeing speedboat.

During the exchange of fire, 1 assailant from the speedboat was thrown overboard, and the PNP MG RMU XIII vessel caught fire.

“As part of the Maritime protocol, the preservation of life is always paramount,” said Sabarre. (Ben Balce)