EasternMinCom Director Emphasizes International Cooperation at CORPAT-PHILINDO 38-2024

Lt. Gen. Rex Luis Bergante, Commander of the EASTERN Mindanao Command, said on Monday that the third installment of CORPAT-PHILINDO 38-2024 aims to continue building a strong foundation for international cooperation and interoperability.

The aim is to address and respond to emerging threats and ensure safety, security and peace in the maritime domain.

Bergante delivered this message during the opening ceremony of the Philippine-Indonesia Boundary Committee, which will host the ceremonial opening of the PH-IDBC from September 9 to 11, 2024, and the third leg of CORPAT PHILINDO XXXVIII from September 12 to 13, 2024 in Camp Panacan.

Welcome speech

“On behalf of the delegation of the Republic of the Philippines, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone. I would especially like to extend a warm greeting to our Indonesian colleagues. Mabuhay, the customary greeting of Filipinos that conveys wishes for long life,” Bergante said.

“We are very grateful to all of you, Head of Delegation, First Admiral May Franky Pasuna Sihombing, Commander of Main Naval Base (CMNB) VIII in Manado, and the esteemed members of the Indonesian delegation, for your support and cooperation,” he added.

Ongoing cooperation

“I am pleased to lead this engagement together with our Indonesian colleagues and also host the opening ceremony of CORPAT PHILINDO 38-2024, while the exercises are already in their third phase,” he said. “Despite our hectic schedules that have led to a slight delay, our enthusiasm for this cooperation remains clear. It offers a new opportunity to bond, discuss and consolidate our victories in this journey towards forging a strategic partnership.”

Deep ties and shared challenges

Bergante emphasized the history of cooperation: “These exercises are not new to us. For more than three decades, our border committees have worked hand in hand to organize this activity and ensure its success. It is a testament to the deep ties between the Philippines and Indonesia, which not only foster cooperation between our navies as neighbors in Southeast Asia, but also genuine camaraderie.”

He acknowledged the challenges facing the region: “We all understand that Southeast Asia faces a range of shared challenges. Our countries find common ground in particular in our defence and security concerns. The geopolitical landscape continues to evolve and we face threats such as terrorism and transnational crime, making it imperative for us to work together and leverage our diversity to create stronger solutions.”

Looking ahead

Bergante expressed optimism for the future: “With all this in mind, I hope that Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through our border committees and exercises such as this, will continue to build a strong foundation for international cooperation and interoperability. By sharing our knowledge and best practices, we can address and respond to emerging threats and ensure the safety, security and peace of our maritime domains for all.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude: “In closing, I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to Tentara Nasional Indonesia for forging the path towards a stronger and more productive alliance in the years to come. Terima kasih banyak! (Thank you very much!)”

Participants and attendees

The Philippine exercises involve 49 military personnel and officers from EastMinCom, PS 37 (Patrol Ship 37), and five naval aviation squadrons from Eastern Mindanao, along with 58 Indonesian Navy personnel and officers.

Also present at the ceremony were Commodore Alfonspin Tumanda Jr., Commander of the Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao and Vice Chairman of the Boundary Committee of the Republic of the Philippines; other members of the Indonesian delegation; Chief of the Unified Command Staff of the EastMinCom Col. Jorry Baclor; and other officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and guests.

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