Landing the Big One

Landing the Big One

Monday, September 25, 2006

Philippines wants in on regional cooperation


Reported here:
THE Philippine Government is eyeing improved boarder patrol agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia to deter the entry of operatives of Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) into Mindanao.

In a forum, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz said he has proposed to his Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts the setting up of sealanes to effectively monitor the movement of ships in the boarder.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo


"To prevent the JI from coming into Mindanao, what I have been proposing to the ministers of defense of Indonesia and Malaysia was that we should set specific lanes between Indonesia and the Philippines and Malaysia," said Cruz.

He said the creation of the lanes "would allow legitimate traffic and movement of people within these lanes." "These lanes would allow authorities from the three countries to check ships traveling outside these designated lanes," he added.

"We should be able to board and inspect vessels out of these lanes to make sure that there are no unauthorized boarder crossing, including strengthening our boarder controls in the ports that will be receiving legitimate goods and people from Indonesia and Malaysia," said Cruz.

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