Lorenzana The proposed joint ground patrol operation among Filipino, Indonesian and Malaysian troops in Mindanao to fight Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists is still in the planning stage and will need an agreement to push through, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.

In a report by the Daily Tribune Sunday, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia would step up and elevate the ongoing trilateral air and sea patrols in southern Philippines through a joint operation of land forces within two months.

Lorenzana said the proposed joint ground operation is still being planned.

The defense chief also cited the absence of visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Indonesia and Malaysia to allow their troops to even conduct joint exercises with Filipino counterparts.

“The joint land patrol is still in the planning stage because we do not have visiting forces agreement with the two countries,” Lorenzana said.

Under the Constitution, foreign troops are not allowed to join even training exercises or conduct actual operations within Philippine territory without any VFA.

Currently, the Philippines only has VFA with the United States and Australia.

In 2017, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia entered into a trilateral security patrol agreement in their maritime borders in Sulu and Celebes seas.

“Naval and air patrols are the only ones allowed right now,” Lorenzana said.

According to Lorenzana, the trilateral sea and air patrols are ongoing primarily to address piracy and terrorism along the borders of the three countries.

“This (naval) patrol has been going on on a regular basis since we signed the Trilateral Patrol last year,” Lorenzana added.

“It is done in the common waters but may include territorial waters only during hot pursuit with the Navy of the country concerned,” he said.

A senior military official, who requested anonymity, said while Indonesia’s proposal is being considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it is unlikely to happen due to legal implications.

“There are legal implications to consider even by having joint training exercises with them (Indonesia and Malaysia), much more if they join ground patrols which is not allowed by our laws,” the official said.

He added “it is for consideration, there are discussions but no final decision yet because of the legal implications.”

Another official echoed Lorenzana’s pronouncements, saying “there should be an agreement first because they cannot join training here without VFA.”

“So at this time, that is very unlikely, first and foremost, it’s not allowed by our Constitution. Second, there is a huge problem in the interoperability among Filipino troops and their Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts,” the second official added.

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