Philippines, Indonesia strengthen border patrol pact

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Philippines and Indonesia are working on strengthening its border patrol agreement in an effort to curb terrorism and transnational crimes, and improve on goods and tourist traffic.

The agreement, tackled during the 34th Joint Border Committee Conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here, comes amid reports of more than 126,000 undocumented border crossings between the two countries in a year. 

Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief, led the Philippine delegation to the conference while Rear Admiral Darwato led the Indonesian representatives. 

During the discussions, both countries discussed ways to enhance coordinated patrol and communication mechanisms, especially during border and territorial patrols.

They also pushed for the inclusion of arms smuggling, trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling and transnational terrorism in the list of border offenses that can be penalized using either country’s laws.

Both parties also wanted to include drug trafficking, smuggling of fake goods and fraudulent medicine and the illegal trade of wood products or wildlife among the border crimes.