By Francis T. Wakefied
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is keeping a tight watch on the country’s southern borders where foreign militants have reportedly entered to reinforce terror forces in Mindanao.
“We cannot discount the possibility of foreign fighters surreptitiously able to enter the country given our vast and porous borders,” AFP spokesman Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
“That is why we are also keeping a tight watch over the country’s crevices. We have enhanced our own monitoring and security posture to keep our sea and air ports in check,” Arevalo added.
Arevalo said they are doing these with the help of other relevant domestic and international agencies as well as local government units.
“We (also) have conventions and agreements with other regional and global partners like trilateral joint patrol agreements with Malaysia and Indonesia,” Arevalo said.
“But at the end of the day, we need the vigilance, cooperation, and active participation of our people in the communities who can monitor and report arrival of new faces in the neighborhood,” he added.
