Philippine troops welcome Indonesian-Malaysian navy delegates in Tawi-Tawi

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (November 15, 2017) - Troops welcomed the delegates of Malaysian and Indonesian forces to the Trilateral Cooperative Agreement during their three-day port visit in Tawi-Tawi Province, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that aboard navy frigates, delegates of the Royal Malaysian Navy, headed by Captain Zahari Bin Samsuri, and the Tentara Nacional Indonesia, headed by Colonel Nanan Isnandar, were welcomed by the men and women of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi at the Naval Station Juan Magluyan in Barangay Batu-Batu, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi at 8:43am Monday (November 13).

The said delegates subsequently rendered a courtesy call to Governor Rashidin Matba at the provincial capitol of Tawi-Tawi. Present during the call were Lieutenant Orbegoso and Mayor Rejie Sahali-Generale of Panglima Sugala.

“Indonesian and Malaysian navy forces are here as part of our Trilateral Cooperative Agreement with Malaysia and Indonesia, and there will be a series of engagements during their three-day port visit to equip and acquaint our delegates,” said Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Jr., the JTF Tawi-Tawi commander.

The said delegates will be trekking the Bongao Peak on Tuesday (Nov. 14) where they will have a boodle fight. They are also expected to join series of goodwill games with the JTF Tawi-Tawi troops in Panampangan Island later on that day.

The port visit will end on November 15, 2017.

“This TRICA is part of our mechanisms to strengthen the maritime operations and curtail piracy and other crimes perpetrated by extremists through a limited trilateral patrol with Malaysian and Indonesian navy forces,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“We gladly welcome and thank our delegates from the Malaysian and Indonesian forces,” he added.

"We will sustain our strong cooperation with our neighbors to address our security challenges in areas of common concerns. This port visit is another major milestone on our Trilateral Cooperation Agreement particularly among our navies,” added LtGen Galvez Jr.

"The consequential outcome of our cooperation will definitely curb smuggling, human trafficking, transhipment of drugs, piracy and high profile kidnapping. Surely, the commercial shipping corridors will be secured."