Filipino security officials met on Thursday with their counterparts from Indonesia and Malaysia to map out new strategies in the campaign against terrorism and other cross-border crimes affecting the three countries, a police official reported.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the three-day conference, which started yesterday on Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, will also be attended by representatives from the United States which has been supportive of Southeast Asia especially in the fight against extremist groups linked with the al-Qaeda international terrorist organization.

Dubbed as Trilateral Interagency Maritime Law Enforcement Workshop (TIAMLEW), Verzosa said the conference- workshop is aimed at discuss pressing concerns on maritime law enforcement of the three countries.

“This will provide a good opportunity for participating police agencies to identify challenges and prospects in maritime law enforcement in the Tri-Border Region of Southeast Asia,” said Verzosa.

The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have been involved in strengthening maritime law enforcement in the seas bordering North Sulawesi and Mindanao as a measure against transnational terrorism and criminality in the high seas.

TIAMLEW workshop scenarios that are part of the conference agenda include threats to common border areas including illegal fishing, poaching, smuggling, illegal logging, human trafficking, and trafficking in illegal drugs.

“Through this workshop, recommendations can be made to policy makers of our respective countries to enforce the necessary actions in order to protect our seas,” said Verzosa.