The Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia Border Committee successfully concluded the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) Phil-Indo XXXII-2018 participated by the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and the Second Fleet, Indonesian Navy.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, the commander of Eastern Mindanao command, in a press briefing yesterday held at the Pinnacle hotel said the continuous CorPat also enhanced their anti-terrorism mechanisms.
“Just like we arrested in Sultan Kudarat and operations conducted in Indonesia so this is a result of our coordination,” he further said.
“We coordinate our patrols twice this year and then we hope to be able to further increase the patrol (patrolling boats),” he said. “But the problem is the lack of patrol boats.”
He also explained that before it was just a plain Navy exercise but for now there are other agencies involved.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, PNP Maritime, and the Philippine Navy Auxiliary Reserve unit, also joined the exercises. The enhanced cooperation resulted in 32 naval exercises and shipboard evolution at the common borders with a total steaming time of 542 hours and 28 minutes covering 5,454 nautical miles.
“One of the accomplishments this year is through the coordination of our Department of Foreign affairs and consulate in Manado, and Department of Social and Welfare development (DSWD), we were able to repatriate 31 Filipino from Indonesia,” he added.
Meanhwile, First Admiral Ahmadi Heri Purwono, S.E.,M.M., commander of Manado Main Naval Base VIII, said, “We can enhance good relationship between the two navies and also we can maintain the safety in the border area and we can exercise and can solve our problem together.”
He said they have also conducted land-based activities in Barangay Tibanban, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. The services include medical, dental, veterinarian, fisheries forum and seedlings distribution. They also documented and provided passports to Indonesian citizens.
The civil military activity benefited 433 medical and 258 dental patients. They also distributed 1,000 assorted seedlings and the planted 800 mangroves in the said barangay.
Meanwhile, the Naval Task Group CorPat Phil-Indo contingent finally arrived here at Captain Feranil Pier earlier this morning after the successful participation in the CORPAT PHILINDO XXXII-18.
The 14- day coordinated border patrol operation is the continuation of the successful 1st Stage of CorPat Phil-Indo XXXII-18 conducted on April 10-29, 2018 with the aim of securing the border areas between two countries.
