Duterte eyes border patrols with Malaysia

From Malaya Business Insight (Nov 3): Duterte eyes border patrols with Malaysia

PRESIDENT Duterte will discuss possible joint military and police patrols and other anti-criminal and piracy operations with Malaysia when he makes an overnight visit next week.

The President, in an interview during his visit to the graves of his parents at the Davao Catholic cemetery, said he would also drop by Thailand next week to pay his respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej who passed away last month and show the Filipinos’ solidarity to the Thai people.

Reports said Duterte would visit Thailand on November 9 and proceed to Malaysia for a visit on November 9 to 10.

The President said topping the agenda of his meeting with Malaysian officials led by Prime Minister Najib Razak is the prevention and stopping of criminal activities, like kidnapping and piracy, along the countries’ common maritime borders.

Duterte said the incidents have paralyzed trade and commerce in the area.

“We have a lot to talk to about the piracy on the Malacca Strait, kidnapping, criminality abounds in that area. Very important that Russia and, I’m sorry, rather Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines talk about this, and once and for all come up with a solution. Maraming kidnapping. Tsaka ‘yung brutal piracy. Sometimes murder on the high seas. We share the same coastline,” he added.

The President said attacks and kidnappings perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is based in Jolo and so close to the borders of Malaysia, is also an embarrassment to the country.

Duterte said discussions will cover border control, border crossing, and may even include joint military and police operations.

He added that, during his visit to Indonesia, he discussed with Indonesian President Joko Widodo about possible joint security measures and said that the Indonesian leader was “OK with everything.”

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Crown Prince of Malaysia’s state of Perlis, sought better military cooperation between Malaysia and the Philippines during a visit at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Faizuddin said he wants more training, specifically between reserved officers of the armed forces of both countries. Reservists are deployed to a variety of missions, including disaster response and relief operations.

Faizuddin is also the commander of the 504th Regiment of the Malaysian Territorial Army, holding the rank of brigadier general. He, likewise, heads the Malaysian Reserve Officer Training Unit or Pasukan Pegawai Simpanan.

Addressing the officers and men of the AFP Reserve Command, Faizuddin said: “There are possible avenues for collaboration between Malaysian ROTU and the AFPRESCOM, such as through joint training.”

“It is significant for both countries to work out avenues or areas for future engagements as well as keeping in touch through various medium available, either via informal or formal means,” he said.

Faizuddin also toured the AFP Museum. He is due to visit the University of the Philippines whose Reserve Officer Training Corps is one of the pioneers of ROTC in the country.

Faizuddin arrived the country Monday for a four-day academic military tour. He will leave the country today and head for Singapore.

AFP chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya said the visit of Faizuddin “marks the robust and strong partnership between the AFP and the Malaysian Armed Forces.”

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/duterte-eyes-border-patrols-malaysia