Major Ezra L. Balagtey, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, during the AFP-PNP press conference on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2017.
(Photo by Marlo Joshua Brua)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The holding of the Philippines-Indonesia coordinated border patrols, known as CORPAT PHILINDO, has officially culminated in a military ceremony last July 12 at 8th Manado Naval Base in Manado, Indonesia.
Eastern Mindanao Command Spokesperson Major Ezra L. Balagtey said the Philippine delegates were led by Eastern Mindanao Command Deputy Commander, BGen. Gilbert I. Gapay.
The closing event, he said, was hosted by the Indonesian military. Prior to the closing ceremony in Manado, a medical mission was conducted on July 7 by the Philippine and Indonesian navies as part of the coordinated patrol, during a stopover of BRP Alcaraz and KRI-812 at Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
The Corpat Philindo was an engagement in the context of newer trilateral patrols between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The border agreement between Manila and Jakarta was an on-going engagement since 1986.
This year’s iteration of the coordinated border patrols, is “intended to strengthen the security of the Davao Gulf and the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago particularly along the Celebes Sea and enhance the interoperability of the two countries in maritime patrol,” Balagtey said in a statement during the kick-off ceremony of the Corpat Philindo earlier this month.
It formally started on July 6 at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City. Corpat Philindo has 140 members of NFEM and 47 from the Indonesian Navy.
He said that during the border patrol, the crew of BRP Alcaraz and KRI-812 conducted communications exercises to develop inter-operability.
“Their coordination and capabilities on water search and rescue were likewise tested as they patroled the southern waters of the archipelago. Furthermore, the two military sea craft challenge vessels plying along the route of patrol to prevent terrorist from using the sea lanes,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
