25 April 2014 – Philippine Consul General in Manado Jose D.R. Burgos paid a courtesy call on the Head of the Regional Police of North Sulawesi, Brig. General Jimmy P. Sinaga, in his office in Manado City on April 15.

During the meeting, the Consul General expressed his appreciation in behalf of the Philippine government for the continued cooperation and assistance of the North Sulawesi Regional Police on matters concerning regional and cross-border security. The Consul General and the Chief of Police discussed the common security challenges between the Philippines and Indonesia, due in part to the shared border, particularly on matters concerning cross-border mixed marriages, documentation and recognition of citizenship of individuals with unconfirmed status in the Philippines-Indonesia border, as well as reports of incidents of smuggling and illegal activities of lawless elements in the border areas.

The Consul General took the opportunity to update the Chief of Police of the ongoing border security cooperation between the Southern Mindanao and North Sulawesi, in particular between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia (KAPOLDA), through the regular bi-annual Philippines-Indonesia Border Committee Chairmen and Vice Chairmen Conferences including the mid-year Coordinated Patrol Exercises (CORPAT) of the Philippine and Indonesian Navies. END