Deploy KRI Kakap-811, RI-Philippine Joint Patrol At Border 5'14 September

KRI Marlin-877 docked at the Philippine Navy Base in Davao, Monday 9 September 2024. (ANTARA/HO-Documentation of the Philippine Navy)

JAKARTA - The warship of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Marlin-877 and the Philippine warship BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) patrolled jointly in border waters of two countries on September 5, 2024.

Head of the Information Service (Kadispen) of the Indonesian Navy Fleet II Command (AL) Marine Colonel (P) Widyo Sasongko explained that this activity was the 3rd session of the Philippines-Indonesian Coordinated Patrol (Corpat Philindo) XXXVIII 2024.

The opening ceremony was held at the Philippine Navy Base Felix Apolinario, Davao City on Tuesday 9 September.

"The purpose of establishing the Border Committee is to ensure the implementation of border patrol operations and traditional cross-border activities in border areas of the two countries, as well as speed up problems that arise at the border," said Commander of the VIII Indonesian Navy Main Base (Danlantamal) Manado, First Admiral of the TNI Major Franky Pasuna Sihombing during the opening ceremony, confiscated by Antara.

During the opening ceremony, Danlantamal VIII Manado explained, the coordinated patrol was a routine activity held by two countries as a follow-up to the RI-Philippine Cross-Border Agreement which was agreed in 1956.

In the agreement, the two countries agreed to establish the RI-Philippine Border Committee.

Quoted from the official website of the Indonesian Navy Information Service, it is explained that the 3rd phase of the Corporate Philindo XXXVIIII-2024 which will take place this month is a continuation of the 2nd phase of coordinated patrols in the last week of June 2024.

In this activity, the Philippine Navy deployed the same warship, namely BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) and its transport aircraft NV394.

The Indonesian Navy in the second phase of the coordinated patrol deployed KRI Kapap-811, a warship under the control of the Marine Security Task Force Fleet II Command.

In this series of patrols, warships from two countries also exercise together in border waters. Some training materials include maneuvering exercises (mannex), communication exercises (commex), passing exercise, training to exchange signs of semaphore exercise, formation training for air photos (photoex), and sailing passes.

In the 2023 Philindo Corporate, the Indonesian Navy and the Philippine Navy also held joint patrols in border waters.

The Philippine Navy at that time deployed the same ships and aircraft this year, while Indonesia deployed KRI Tongkol-813.

Indonesia and the Philippines share maritime borders in the Sulawesi Sea and the Sulu Sea. These territorial waters are often places of operation for the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) pirates and terrorists, as well as vulnerable to smuggling of goods and humans.

Therefore, the two countries routinely carry out coordinated patrols throughout the year to jointly maintain waters at the border while increasing interoperability between the Indonesian Navy and the Philippine Navy.