Philippines, Indonesia agree to review pacts on border crossing, patrol

Source:Xinhua Published: 2015-11-5 22:58:24

The Philippines and Indonesia have convened an annual conference regarding border-related issues in southern city of Davao, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

The three-day 34th Philippine-Indonesia Border Committee Chairmen's Conference (BCCC), which will end on Friday, is being co-chaired by Lieutenant General Aurelio Baladad, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command, and Rear Admiral Darwanto of the Indonesian Navy.

In a statement, the DFA said aside from discussing operational issues to enhance border cooperation, the Committee agreed on the need to review and revise the 1975 Philippines-Indonesia Agreements on Border Crossing and Border Patrol.

This is to attune them to current realities, especially in light of the signing and impending entry into force of the Philippines-Indonesia Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Boundary, which was signed in May 2014, it said.

The department also said that the Sub-Committee on Border Patrol and Communications discussed the need to consider the inclusion of civilian maritime law enforcement agencies in conducting coordinated patrols, update the medium of communications used during maritime patrol operations, and cover other transnational and organized crimes, such as drug trafficking and migrant smuggling, in the list of border offenses.

The 35th Border Committee Chairmen's Conference will be held in Manado, Indonesia in 2016.

Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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