PH, Indonesia, Malaysia open borders in pursuit of criminals

The Philippines will allow Indonesian and Malaysian naval forces to pursue Islamic militants entering local waters as part of a new border patrol arrangement.

The trilateral maritime patrol, formally launched Monday in Indonesia, aims to combat terrorism, piracy, and other transnational crimes in regional waters, according to Armed

Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

“In the event of hot pursuit, puwedeng lumagpas sa mga…pumasok sa teritoryo habang hinahabol hanggat nakuha ng kabilang side iyong paghabol at pag-accost doon sa hinahabol (they can enter our territory until they accost the fleeing suspect),” Padilla said in a Palace briefing.

“Ganun din tayo ‘pag may hinahabol tayo, pwede tayong lumagpas sa international waters papunta sa territory nila in pursuit of that – a threat (We can also do the same pursuit. We can pass international waters and go to their territory in pursuit of a threat),” he added.

Under the new arrangement, the three Asian countries are expected to coordinate naval patrols to secure the Sulu Sea, located northeast of Borneo island and southwest of the Philippines.

The latest border pact comes amid deadly clashes between government troops and Islamic State-inspired militants in Marawi City. More than 200 rebels have been killed as fighting entered its 27th day yesterday.

Padilla said the trilateral naval patrols will not only help prevent kidnappings and piracy in the high seas but also curb the movement of violent extremists in the common borders.

“Hopefully, ma-address natin ‘yung porous borders natin sa bagay na ‘yan. Pagkakaroon nang mas maayos na pagpatrolya. Unang-una, para ma-prevent ‘yung abduction at high sea (Hopefully, we can address our porous borders by conducting better patrols to prevent abductions in the high seas),” he said.

“And more than that is the movement of personnel bound from one country to another who are fugitives of their own laws and seeking haven in these parts of these different countries as well as providing assistance to the groups of jihadists in these areas,” he added.

Padilla also recognized the importance of sharing information and intelligence among foreign allies to fight terrorism and other security threats.

“So hindi kinakailangang manghimasok sa bawat bansa at makialam because we’re all sovereign nations. And in that manner, the best weapon we always rely on is these exchanges of information and information sharing about the movements of terrorists and what have you,” he said. Timely Indonesia’s military chief Gatot Nurmantyo said the patrols are timely as his country tries to stop militants from Marawi escaping to Indonesia while posing as refugees.

The three neighbors agreed in May 2016 to conduct the joint patrols and share intelligence, after a series of kidnaps of foreigners by the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist group based mainly in the southernmost Philippine islands who beheaded several victims after ransoms were not paid.

“The series of piracy attacks accompanied by kidnappings that occurred frequently in the Sulu (Sea) waters have had a huge security impact on surrounding coastal countries ... and have pushed us to conduct a coordinated patrol among three countries,” said Nurmantyo at the launching of the joint patrol in the Indonesian island of Tarakan off Borneo island.

The three countries also set up maritime command centres – in Tarakan for Indonesia, Tawau for Malaysia and Bongao for the Philippines – to collect information and coordinate the patrols.

This will enable the closest ship from any nation to be sent to answer distress calls and allow for hot pursuit, Nurmantyo said.

The launch was attended by the three countries’ defense ministers and marked by an Indonesian navy sail-past and a fly-past of Sukhoi fighter jets. (Wwith a report from AFP)