Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian and Philippine navies have launched a joint patrol in their maritime border of Sulawesi and Mindanao waters to strengthen their capabilities against piracy and terrorism, the spokesperson of the Indonesian navy said on June 30.
The joint effort was held during the second phase of the 38th Coordinated Patrol-Philippines-Indonesia (Corpat Philindo). The Indonesian navy deployed KRI Kakap-811, and the Philippine navy sent its BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) along with PN Aircraft NV394.
According to Indonesia’s Fleet Command II spokesperson Col. Widyo Sasongko, the two vessels were involved in several exercises, including maneuvering (Manex), passage (Passex), and formation for PhotoEx. After the training, they continued patrolling inside their respective territorial waters.
Indonesia and the Philippines share a maritime border in the Sulawesi and Sulu waters that pirates and members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have frequently used for smuggling of goods and human trafficking.
Due to these cross-border threats to maritime security, the navies of the two countries hold a coordinated patrol every year under the Corpat Philindo Program, Sasongko said.
Besides, the joint patrol also aimed to enhance interoperability, he added./.
