The Philippines has been urged to form an integrated maritime and coastal command to improve security at sea.

Amparo “Mimi” Fabe, a security and business intelligence specialist, says piracy, kidnappings and terror threats mean the 260,000-square kilometre tri-border area straddling the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand remains high risk.

Only this week it was reported that the boxship Ocean Kingdom (built 2000) was attacked by armed men in two speedboats off the southern coast of the Philippines.

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