Philippines, Indonesia conduct coordinated border patrol

MANILA, Philippines — The navies of the Philippines and Indonesia launched yesterday a coordinated patrol of their common border.

Commodore Ramil Roberto Enriquez, vice chairman of the Philippine border committee and concurrent commander of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, and First Admiral Jonais Mozes Sipasulta, vice chairman of Indonesia’s border committee, led the activity in Davao City.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said this year’s coordinated patrol would come in four phases.

“Aside from its security purpose, the coordinated patrol  will provide the naval forces of both countries an opportunity to improve interoperability and capability in furtherance of a safe and secure common border through naval exercises simulating various scenarios,” Balagtey said.

The Philippine Navy will deploy one of its  high-endurance cutters, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz.

The Indonesian Navy will deploy one of its warships, KRI Pandrong, that dropped anchor at Sasa port on Wednesday.

Both warships will conduct joint operations in the Sulu Sea and adjoining waters.

Aside from the bilateral patrol agreement, the Philippines and Indonesia have a trilateral  maritime  cooperation on border security  with Malaysia.

The trilateral maritime agreement was finalized in Kuala Lumpur last year. 

Lawless elements, including pirates, smugglers as well as foreign and local terrorists have been using the porous southern backdoor as their entry and exit points to and from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.