AFP to coordinate with neighboring countries to secure maritime borders

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will work closely with other Southeast Asian countries to secure the country’s maritime borders amid reports that foreign terrorists are using the porous southern backdoor to enter and leave the country undetected.

AFP public affairs chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. noted that the Philippines has existing agreements with Malaysia and Indonesia on securing border patrols and thwarting terrorism.

“Our intelligence operatives are working closely with our security forces and other law enforcement agencies in the area and making full use (of) and adhering to existing agreements with neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia,” Burgos told The STAR yesterday.

“Apart from strengthening maritime security operations and further enhancing our intelligence gathering in the area, we need to continue military intelligence sharing and border cooperation with our neighboring countries,” he added.

Burgos said the military is continuously using the coast watch system in the south to monitor developments in the area.

He said the radars have enabled the security forces to address maritime threats like terrorism, transnational crimes, drug and human trafficking and illegal fishing.

“The intelligence gathering efforts of our operatives in Southern Mindanao have been doubled to prevent transnational crimes and threats from happening in our area of responsibility,” he added.

Earlier, Armed Forces deputy chief for operations Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said foreign terrorists are using the porous border in the Philippines’ southern backdoor to enter and leave the country unchecked.

Armed Forces deputy chief for intelligence Maj. Gen. Francisco Cruz said they have identified four of the Malaysian and Indonesian terrorists in the south.

The Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members who are based mainly in Sulu include notorious bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan.