Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Launch Joint Maritime Patrol

JAKARTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jun, 2017 ) : Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines launched coordinated maritime patrols to intensify their fight against extremist militants who have laid siege to a southern Philippine city.

Defense ministers and military chiefs from the three countries launched the patrols in the Indonesian city of Tarakan in northern Borneo, just across the border from Sabah, Malaysia. Indonesia's military chief, Gen.

Gatot Nurmantyo, said the Maritime Command Centers were also opened in the cities of Tawau in Malaysia and Bongao in the Philippines. The information and intelligence sharing centers establish designated sea-lanes for boats and ships in the seas along the countries' borders to prevent ISIS-aligned militants in the southern Philippines from fleeing to neighboring nations.

Nurmantyo said the trilateral maritime patrol was initiated by Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines last year to maintain stability in the region in the face of threats such as piracy, kidnapping, terrorism and other transnational crimes in regional waters.

"This trilateral cooperation is needed to anticipate infiltration possibility of ISIS-aligned militants from Marawi disguised as refugees," Nurmantyo said in a speech. Opening ceremony was held on board an Indonesian warship and was attended by security officials from Singapore and Brunei, who acted as observers.

Marawi is 750 kilometers (465 miles) northeast of Tarakan in Indonesia's North Kalimantan province.