The country has existing separate bilateral border patrol cooperation with both Indonesia and Malaysia.
The matter on the expansion of the joint border patrol mechanism was discussed during the Ninth Meeting of the RP-Malaysia Border Patrol Coordinating Group held here last week. However, the proposal would have to be discussed first with Indonesia as to how it can be implemented and how it will affect the existing bilateral relations.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command officials said the expansion will enable the three countries to effectively monitor the movement of sea crafts plying their territorial waters.
Problems on piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, illegal drugs and arms shipment and human smuggling were identified as common to the country’s joint border patrol with both Indonesia and Malaysia.
The siege last year on a resort in Sipadan Island in East Malaysia by Abu Sayyaf bandits who took more than two dozen foreign nationals hostage, also prompted Malaysia and the Philippines to further enhance their border patrol operations.