THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Indonesian National Police (INP) have agreed to further expand their regional inter-agency cooperation against terrorism and other transnational crime taking place in both countries and their boundaries.

The agreement was reached following a meeting between PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. and the secretary of the NCB Interpol of Indonesia, Brigadier Gen. Amur Chandra Juli Buana, head of the International Relations Division of the INP in Abu Dhabi.

The two reaffirmed their respective commitments on cooperation, capacity-building and combating transnational crimes during a bilateral meeting at the 24th Asian Regional Conference of the Interpol General Secretary in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“This international understanding manifests the commitment of both Philippines and Indonesian police forces to enhance the level of partnership and cooperation between our two countries in fighting transnational crime and terrorism,” Gen. Azurin said.

The top cop stated that the Philippines shares a wide border with Indonesia and strengthening cooperation on regional security issues between the two countries is essential.

Both police forces have formulated standard procedures in joint police operations, joint training on cooperation, a procedure in the conduct of hot pursuit operations along territorial waters, and guidelines for the handover of criminal suspects.

The PNP and the INP also forged a Memorandum of Understanding last December 12, 2022 in order to continue the conduct of maritime joint exercises (PHILINDO JCM and MARLEX), capacity-building training/courses, and security assistance to boost the anti-crime campaign of the two countries.

The joint initiative of the two police forces seeks to prevent and control transnational crime activities including, but not limited to: drug trafficking, terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking, maritime piracy, cyber-crimes, commercial crimes, credit card fraud, fraudulent travel documents, and other forms of commercial and financial fraud.

Last year, the PNP and the INP also committed to strengthen their cooperation, capacity-building and effort to combat transnational crimes during a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at Camp Crame.

Thirteen officials of the INP led by Police Inspector General Moh Abdul Kadir, Deputy Director of Social and Culture, Intelligence Board of the INP, flew to the country last December to discuss mutual cooperation and promote stronger and durable Philippines-Indonesia relations to spur domestic economic growth in both countries.

The INP officials also visited Manila to conduct bilateral discussion meetings in preparation for the upcoming Joint Committee Meeting for 2023 and to set plans for the joint Maritime Law Enforcement Exercises (MARLEX) in 2023.

Philippine and Indonesian security forces are known for tracking down terrorist groups linked to the al-Qaeda and the Jemaah Islamiyah in the past, even to the point of going after some Indonesian and Malaysian nationals believed to have been training local terrorist groups in Mindanao on how to manufacture powerful improvised explosive devices.

Both countries are also getting big financial support to counter terrorism from the United States government.

Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists who are aligned with the Al-Qaeda since the 1990s gained international attention when they launched a series of bomb attacks in Bali, Indonesia in 2002 killing some 500 people including Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese and Indonesian nationals.

The same terror group again launched a series of high-profile bombings in Indonesia including the bomb attack on the J. W. Marriot Hotel in Jakarta on August 4, 2004 which killed one and wounded 150; the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004 which left 11 persons dead and 160 others wounded; and another Bali bomb attack on October 1, 2005 which killed 20 and injured 129.

On the other hand, the Philippines is also no stranger to similar terror attacks including the deadly Rizal Day bombings on December 20, 2000 which killed 22 and wounded more than 100 others, the bombing of a super ferry on February 27, 2004 which left 116 people dead and some 300 others injured and the bombing at the Davao International Airport on March 5, 2003 which killed 21 and injured 148.