Wednesday, December 05, 2007 Indon-RP border talks open today By Carlo P. Mallo
THE 26th Conference of the Philippines-Indonesia Border Committee is slated to formally open Wednesday in General Santos City.
Lieutenant General Cardozo Luna, commanding general of the Eastern Mindanao Command, headed the 12-man Philippine delegation. Together with Luna are the regional heads of the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, the Maritime Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Philippines and Indonesia share maritime borders in the Celebes and Sulawesi seas.
Philippines and Indonesia conducted a joint patrol exercise on the borders of the two-archipelagic countries.
During the end of the joint patrol exercise, a team of local government units and government officials gathered for talks on possible expansion of trade ties.
The joint border patrol exercise included the showcase of naval ships and military aircrafts.
"The exercise is part of our efforts to secure the maritime border between Indonesia and the Philippines from illegal activities," Luna said.
Luna is chair of the Philippine panel overseeing the border crossing agreements between Philippines and Indonesia.
