RP, Indonesia go after arms smugglers

DAVAO CITY — The Philippine-Indonesia joint border committee has drawn up an "action plan" against the rampant arms smuggling in the waters between the two countries.

Committee members ended yesterday their annual three-day meeting at the Davao Waterfront Insular Hotel, coming up with measures to beef up their border patrols in the waters between Southern Mindanao and North Sulawesi.

The military officials of both countries also cited the need to improve intelligence operations against the arms smugglers.

Maj. Gen. Tnia Yahya headed the Indonesian delegation, while Navy Commodore Joaquin Tan led the Philippine panel, on behalf of Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, chief of the Armed Forces’ Southern Command.

Under the action plan, intelligence gathering will be bolstered, with specific focus on "small arms smuggling" in common border areas of the two countries.

The joint border committee vowed to improve monitoring and identification of target groups and their areas of operations, giving equal attention to inbound and outbound illicit operations from both countries.

To make the action plan effective, both sides agreed to conduct frequent border patrols and enhance their communication systems and procedures.

The two countries also zeroed in on the need to strengthen liaison work in the conduct of joint coordinated patrols and during hot pursuit operations and interception.

The panel members also agreed to hold regular meetings to share intelligence information and discuss joint operations.

The meeting was also attended by foreign affairs, Customs and immigration officials from both countries.