Maritime
Enhanced joint
patrols in Sulu
Sea area launched
by Malaysia,
Indonesia and
the Philippines
by: Philip Ortaleza and Nil Garces Belar
16
T
he increasing rise of terrorist groups
triggered by the recent attack by
Muslim militant group ISIS in Marawi
City has been a real cause for alarm,
not only within Mindanao but in
neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia
as well. And if one considers Marawi’s
proximity to Sabah and Indonesia,
there is very good reason to take drastic action.
This is also why, during the aftermath of the Marawi
attacks and to help combat the possible rise of trans-
national terrorist threats not only from ISIS but other
Muslim radical groups as well, Indonesia and Malaysia
have firmly partnered with the Philippines in launch-
ing joint sea patrols along the Sulu Sea area.
The three countries first agreed to conduct coor-
dinated maritime patrols as part of a broader plan to
tackle rising security challenges in their maritime bor-
der areas amid a spate of kidnappings and attacks on