Philippines, Indonesia to intensify coordinated patrol

January 9, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to intensify coordinated patrols to ensure security and maritime control in the borders of the two countries.

The agreement was reached during the two-day 36th Republic of the Philippines–Republic of Indonesia (RP-RI) Border Committee Chairmen’s Conference that ended Tuesday, January 9, and held in Davao City.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the RP-RI Border Committee said that coordinated patrol operations are aimed to prevent the use “of our respective territorial waters as an avenue for the proliferation of terrorism and other transnational crimes.”

The agreement is in support to the President Rodrigo Duterte’s intent during the meeting last week with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Davao City.

The committee agreed to look into measures “to ensure the safe passage of our respective nationals, to include fisher folks, in the border areas.”

“This effort will contribute in uplifting the economic well being of our respective countrymen while assuring their protection en route to the fishing grounds at high seas,” it said in a joint statement.

Both parties also looked into the possibility of increasing border crossing stations that will be located at common border areas and, to further strengthen operational functions of existing stations.  DMS