Philippines, Indonesia conclude joint maritime exercises

From the Mindanao Examiner (May 12, 2023): Philippines, Indonesia conclude joint maritime exercises

DAVAO CITY – The Philippines and Indonesia have closed a four-day annual joint maritime exercises held in Manado City.

The 37th Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) started on May 3 and ended on May 7, according to the Eastern Mindanao Command, adding, the bilateral patrol between the Philippine and Indonesian Navies, carried out four times a year through Harbor and Sea Phases to foster interoperability and secure the maritime borders of both countries against piracy, smuggling, illegal crossing, and other criminal activities.

The 35-man Philippine Border Committee (PHBC) members led by Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command and also PHBC Chairman; and Commodore Carlos Sabarre, commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao who is also the PHBC Vice-Chairman.

The exercised were also participated by the Tactical Operations Wing-Eastern Mindanao, the Coast Guard District South Eastern Mindanao, Bureau of Immigration, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Statistics Authority and observers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.

Through the joint efforts and assistance of the respective governments, the PHBC and IDBC also facilitated the repatriation of six Filipino fishermen from Indonesia.

Almerol expressed the willingness of the PHBC to revise and improve the provisions of the 1975 Border Patrol and Border Crossing agreement to keep up with the complexities and evolving nature of the current security and defense landscape.

“We welcome endeavors to explore new opportunities for joint development, including countering terrorism and violent extremism, maritime security, and defense industry. The entire Armed Forces of the Philippines commit to strengthen our partnership in all joint endeavors and exert our best efforts to safeguard the maritime borders and best interest of our respective countries,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

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