Phl, Indonesia tighten border patrol
DAVAO CITY – The Philippines and Indonesia have strengthened anew their bilateral ties with the successful holding of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) PHILINDO XXXII-2018 in an effort to further secure the waters between the two countries.
The Philippines and Indonesian Border Committees, participated in by the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, through the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao and the Eastern Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy participated in the Corpat that ended here in Davao City Wednesday.
According to Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, the Corpat was actually done in two phases wherein Phase 1 from 10 to 29 April 2018 with opening ceremony held in Manado City, Indonesia; and Phase 2 from 5 to 20 July 2018 with the closing ceremony held in Davao City.
The Corpat was also joined by other maritime agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and the Philippine Navy Auxiliary Reserve Unit.
The Philippine and Indonesian Navies enhanced their inter-operability at sea resulting to the conduct of 32 naval exercises and shipboard evolution along the common borders with a total steaming time of 542 hours and 28 minutes covering 5,454 nautical miles.
Through the joint efforts of their respective governments, last April 20 the coordinated naval patrol was able to jibe the repatriation of 31 Filipino fisher folks from Indonesia back to their families with the assistance of concerned local government units and government agencies.
Alongside the sea-based exercise, civic action and medical assistance activities were also undertaken at Barangay Tibanban, Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental as part of the land-based activities with the support and participation of the local government unit of Governor Generoso, the Consulate of Indonesia based in Davao City and other government agencies.
The services included medical, dental, veterinarian, fisheries forum, distribution of 1,000 assorted seedlings to the local populace, and on-site registration to Indonesian expatriates.
The Consulate of Indonesia was also able to conduct documentation and provided passports to qualified Indonesian citizens. The civil-military activity benefitted a total of 433 medical and 258 dental patients, and about 800 mangroves were planted in the said barangay.
With these, the Philippine and the Indonesian border committees expressed satisfaction on the results of the coordinated naval patrol and reaffirmed cooperation not only in ensuring enhanced coordinated border security measures between the two countries but also to provide humanitarian assistance to citizens of both countries in the future.
Madrigal represented the Philippine government while 1st Admiral TNI Ahmado Heri Purwono, SEMM commander of the Second Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy was his counterpart in the Corpat activities yesterday.