BOC PATROL BOATS. Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu Collector Charlito Martin Mendoza (3rd from left) boards one of the three littoral patrol vessels during the blessing on Wednesday (May 4, 2022) at the Pier 5 in Cebu City. The three patrol vessels will be used to interdict smugglers using the seawaters. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra) CEBU CITY - Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu personnel can now chase and intercept vessels used in smuggling illegal drugs and environmental products in the seawaters of Central Visayas, as three littoral patrol boats were launched at the Pier 5 here Wednesday. Lawyer Charlito Martin Mendoza, BOC-Cebu collector, said the deployment of the three fast craft is an anticipation of the smugglers' attempt to use the coast in bringing in undocumented goods from abroad now that the bureau is more advanced in its anti-smuggling protocols. "In the past two years... we have been updating our surveillance and detection protocols and technology on-land with new X-ray and detection machines, improved profiling of shipments, and deployment of K9 patrol units in our container yards and warehouses," Mendoza said in his speech during the blessing of the patrol boats. He said these tightened on-land protocols coupled with personnel skills training led them to "anticipate that smugglers would resort more to on-sea attempts, especially for illegal drugs and environmental products." He said the customs police of the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and boarding officers of the Port Operations Division can now quickly chase and intercept smuggling vessels. Mendoza thanked BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero for "understanding the dangers" of the job of personnel involved in border security operations. He cited Guerrero's effort to upgrade equipment for protection, surveillance, patrolling, and "with the ever-possible danger of encounter and resistance, for self-defense and arrests". "Together with our partner agencies, the BOC-Cebu has been consistent in providing continuous training for operations and workshops for values formation so that you may carry out your duties well and with integrity," Mendoza said. Maj. Danielo Gonzales, BOC's ESS Water Patrol Division, said the state-of-the-art patrol boats are testaments that the BOC has a world-class smuggling interdiction operation. "Let us show to the whole nation that our bureau is in the midst of meaningful and significant transformation. That we are committed to our jobs as public servants.," Gonzales said in his message. Lawyer Marc Anthony Patriarca, deputy collector for operations, said each patrol boat -- which is manufactured by Dynacast Shipbuilding in Danao City north of Cebu province -- has a length of 12.7 meters with the capacity of eight passengers and is equipped with three turbo-charged outboard diesel engine at 150 horsepower per engine. Patriarca said each vessel is also equipped with a global positioning system, Garmin radar, and high-frequency marine radio, with a maximum speed of 40 knots. (PNA) }