Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: EASTMINCOM: Philippines and Indonesia conduct Joint Naval Patrol as Border Reopens

Friday, July 15, 2022

EASTMINCOM: Philippines and Indonesia conduct Joint Naval Patrol as Border Reopens

Posted to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jul 15, 2022): Philippines and Indonesia conduct Joint Naval Patrol as Border Reopens

5th Civil Relations Group

Philippines and Indonesia conduct Joint Naval Patrol as Border Reopens

NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - A Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) between the Philippines and Indonesia (PHILINDO) reopened on July 5 at the Swiss-belhotel Maleosan, Manado, Indonesia, as borders between the two countries reopened this year.

Rear Admiral Dr. TSNB Hutabarat, M.M.S, the Commander of the Fleet Command II, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Indonesia Border Committee (IDBC), hosted the opening ceremony of CORPAT PHILINDO XXXVI-2022.

The Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and Philippine Border Committee (PHBC) Chairman, LtGen. Greg T. Almerol graced the opening. He was also accompanied by Commodore Carlos V. Sabarre, the Commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) and (PHBC) Vice-Chairman; Philippine Consul General in Manado Angelica C. Escalona; and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Mindanao Assistant Secretary Renato Pedro O. Villa.

CORPAT PHILINDO is a joint patrol between the Indonesian Navy and the Philippine Navy, which aims to maintain and secure the maritime borders of both countries against piracy, illegal crossing, and other criminal activities, carried out four times a year, including the Harbor and Sea Phases.

LtGen. Almerol said the harbor phase of the previous CORPAT was put on hold during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic when both countries closed their borders.

The EastMinCom Commander also bared that CORPAT PHILINDO XXXVI-2022 was designed to provide both naval forces an opportunity to improve interoperability and capability, to ensure a safe and secure common border through naval exercises simulating various scenarios.

"Our long-established defense relations made a remarkable impact in bolstering the military-to-military relationship between our nation’s armed forces through the conduct of joint maritime exercises, information sharing, and professional exchanges," he said.

"I am confident that we will be able to sustain our efforts in responding to the common challenges that beset our nations and be able to build a Southeast Asian Region that is peaceful and prosperous," LtGen. Almerol added.

Meanwhile, the naval ships involved during the exercises and coordinated patrols were the KRI Ajak-653 from the Indonesian Navy and BRP Ramon Alcaraz PS-16 from the Philippine Navy.###