JAKARTA – 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, an Indonesian navy spokesperson said.
The joint effort was held on June 27, during the second phase of the 38th Coordinated Patrol-Philippines-Indonesia (Corpat Philindo), Fleet Command II spokesperson Col. Widyo Sasongko said on Friday.
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) deployed KRI Kakap-811, and the Philippine Navy sent its Jacinto-class corvette, BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37), and PN Aircraft NV394.
The joint patrol also aims to enhance interoperability, Sasongko said.
The two vessels were involved in several exercises, including maneuvering (Manex), passage (Passex), and formation for PhotoEx.
They ended the training with a salute and 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 TNI-AL and Philippine Navy hold a coordinated patrol every year under the Corpat Philindo Program, Sasongko said.
The Corpat Philindo alone has routinely been implementing the two countries' 1975 Border Crossing Area (BCA) Agreement, he added.
The notorious ASG abducted eight Indonesians working for a fishing vessel in the Tambisan waters of Tungku Lahad Dato, Malaysian State of Sabah, on January 16, 2020.
Three of the eight hostages, identified as Abdul Latif (37), Daeng Akbal (20), and Pian bin Janiru (36), were freed along with the wooden fishing boat, while five others remained under the custody of the ASG.
The hostages were identified as Arsyad bin Dahlan (42), Arizal Kastamiran (29), La Baa (32), Riswanto bin Hayono (27), and Edi bin Lawalopo (53).
The kidnappers then demanded PHP30 million (around USD4.4 million) as ransom for the release of five Indonesians.
These Indonesian citizens were abducted not far from the spot where three Indonesians were kidnapped in the Tambisan waters, Tungku Lahad Datu, Malaysia, on Sept. 23, 2019.
The ASG had repeatedly held Indonesian hostages. From 2016 to November 2018 alone, 34 Indonesian citizens had been taken hostage in the southern Philippines.