1.
CV Manila Bay with a gun-boat in foreground
0.05

2.
SV Coast guard gunboat with Philippine flag
0.08

3.
SV & CU Coast guard officer briefs crew (2 shots)
0.16

4.
LV Gunboat heads into bay (2 shots)
0.29

5.
SV Crewmen at machine gun, boat patrolling harbour (2 shots)
0.37

6.
LV Approaching ship
0.40

7.
CU Gunboat crewmen on boat
0.42

8.
LV Ship unloading onto barge
0.45

9.
TV Gunboat approaches barge, armed patrolmen board barge and ship (2 shots)
1.06

10.
CU Crewmen on gunboat watches as armed guards search small vessel
1.17

11.
GV Patrol boat in Bay
1.22



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Philippine Coast Guard has begun 24-hour patrols of Manila Bay to combat the growing wave of armed piracy against merchant ships. Anti-piracy forces were formed, following threats by the Japanese Seamen's Union to boycott all ships bound for the Philippines because of the frequent attacks on Japanese vessels. Already this year sea-going bandits have attacked and robbed II Japanese ships. In one incident, a crewman was shot and wounded.

SYNOPSIS: The Philippine Government has ordered Coast Guard vessels to patrol Manila Bay 24 hours a day. The action was taken to pirates operating in this area. Eleven ships from Japan have been attacked and robbed by sea-going bandits in the past eight months.

The order follows a Japanese Government request to the Philippines for action to combat piracy and a ban by the Japanese Seamen's Union on Philippine-bound vessels. In one of the incidents against Japanese ships, a crewman was shot and wounded. Normally, the only patrols in Philippine waters are by customs officials designed to check smuggling. The new order now allows the Coast Guard equal jurisdiction. In addition to patrolling, the Coast Guard will post man aboard ships while they are unloading.

However, even if the action is effective in the Bay, no moves have been announced to step-up patrols in the Southern Philippines. Smuggling and piracy are reportedly wide spread in the area.