By Jaime Laude
MANILA, Philippines - The enforcement of joint maritime security patrols among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia will not only address the rising criminality being committed on their respective maritime boundaries but will also tighten, if not totally plug, the entry and exit of local and foreign terrorists into the three neighboring states, the Department of National Defense (DND) said.
Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong issued this statement in welcoming the soon-to-be launched maritime security arrangement between three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, in a bid to forestall terrorism and cross-border crimes with their respective maritime borders.
“It is a timely measure in response to the ever-evolving threat of terrorism not only in our countries but in the entire region, “ Andolong said.
In his meeting with President Duterte at Malacañang Friday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the planned launching of joint maritime security patrols in line with both countries’ intensified security cooperation.
Widodo also said that for transnational crimes, it has been agreed upon that the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation be expanded by creating a joint working group on counter-terrorism and strengthening intelligence information cooperation.
“This bodes well for the future of maritime security and safety in our common areas,” Andolong said.
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