RI, Philippines Agree on Efforts to Stamp Out Terrorism

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran | March 08, 2011

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, left, delivers his address during a
joint statement with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
(AFP Photo)

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Indonesia and the Philippines on Tuesday agreed to intensify cooperation on maritime border security in an effort to combat terrorism.

“In the fields of politics and security, we have agreed to intensify cooperation in the field of defense — with the focus on education and training for disaster mitigation, terrorism eradication, and coordinated sea and air patrol and peacekeeping missions,” President Susilo bambang Yudhoyono said in a joint press conference with President Benigno Simeon Aquino at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

“The cooperation of police forces from both nations will also be enhanced as we have signed a memorandum of understanding [MUI] on the way to combat terrorism and transnational crime.”

Besides signing three MUIs on education, sport and youth, the state heads discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral relations on issues such as fishing and maritime border security.

“We agreed to accelerate the negotiation and establish the maritime boundary delimitation,” Yudhoyono said. “If we can solve this effectively, we can face transnational crime and terrorism.”

President Aquino said that he hoped the boundary delimitation would be established soon as it was a way of combating terrorism.

“The maritime boundary delimitation will enhance our cooperation in so many fields, from protecting the marine environment to being more efficient in regards to the security concerns in the region between Philippines and Indonesia in particular,” Aquino said.

“We have doubled, or perhaps even more, our efforts to combat terrorism which affects both of our countries and our people greatly."