IMMIGRATION INTELLIGENCE RISK ASSESMENT of THE SULU SEA REGION JEROME T. GABIONZA Deputy Chief / Head Operations Intelligence Division Bureau of Immigration

THE SULU SEA REGION:

A. CHALLENGES A.1 PIRACY A.2 MARITIME TERRORISM A.3 TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS A.4 REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL MIGRATION A.5 PROTECTING ENERGY ROUTES AND MARINE LIFE B. ASSESSMENT OF THE SULU SEA B.1 Located in Southwestern Philippine, the Sulu Sea is a 100,000- square mile body of water bounded to the Northwest by Palawan Province, to the Southeast by the Sulu Archipelago and to the South west of the Eastern Malaysian State of Sabah. B.2 It is pare of a vast maritime area commonly referred to as a Tri- border area composed of the Celebes Sea and the Sulu Sea; What divides the two (2) seas is a string of Islands known as the Sulu Archipelago made up of the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan that are component political units of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and operational base of the MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayyap (ASG)

B.3 A great portion of the Sulu Sea is located within the Philippines are of jurisdiction within which may also be found the Tubbataha Reef marine Park, a World Heritage Site comprising 32,000 hectares, the Turtle Islands, offshore from Northern Sabah, which was established for conservation of Turtles in a bi-national agreement of the Philippines and Malaysia, and the Island Municipality of Mapun known as Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi.

B.4 Except for Turtle Island, Mapun and a group of small islands northeast of the Tubbataha Reef, the vast expense of the Sulu Sea is practically an ungoverned maritime space. B.5 The Sulu Sea is rich in national resources and marine life. Securing its sea lanes is a work in progress. C. THREATS IN THE PHILIPPINE FACES IN THE SULU SEA C.1A study conducted in 2007 point to the fact that the Philippine land areas bordering the Sulu Sea, particularly the Sulu Archipelago, is characterized by high level of poor governance, corruption, poverty and unemployment. C.2 In addition, Mindanao has been besieged for the last five (5) decades by separatist conflicts and insurgency (resulting in tens of thousands of death, dislocation and forced migration) such that the Sulu Sea has become notorious for illegal maritime activities such as piracy, smuggling, trafficking in persons, guns and illegalnarcotics.

C.3The deteriorating situation in the Sulu Sea are aggravated by lack of state presence and capacity, poor governance, economic and political marginalization. C.4 Potential base of operations for both transnational criminals and terrorist similar to the coastlines of Somalia. D. GROUPS KNOWN TO BE MISUSING THE SULU SEA D.1 Traditional Commercial Traders and Smugglers. D.2 Ordinary Pirates and Bandits D.3 The MILF; D.4The Abu Sayyap ( of the kidnapping and Sipadan Raid Frame) D.5 Human Traffickers exiting from the Sulu Archipelago bound for Sabah and other destinations D.6Illegal Fishermen using dynamites, cyanides

E. CURRENT STATE OF COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS: E.1The BIMP- East Asia Growth Area (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines); E.2 Philippines and Indonesia On going border crossing talk (designation of Border crossing stations) Four (4) coordinated patrols annually in the Celebes Sea. Agreement to these patrols a year. E.3Philippines and Malaysia Two (2) coordinated patrols a year. (NB: Philippine proposal for year-round coordinated naval patrols as well as designated sea lanes for all maritime traffic to facilitate easier monitoring and inspection by the three navies not yet acted upon) E.4Philippines announced a program called Coast Watch South to enhance the Philippine Navy’s ability to conduct surveillance and interdiction of the security threats in the country’s Southern “backdoor” developed with help from Australia, the concept envisages the establishment of 19 Coast Watch stations from Palawan to Davao equipped with fast patrol boats and helicopters at an estimated cost $380 Million. The U.S. has reportedly pledge $20 million.

F. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS AND COVERAGE OF THE AREA F.1 Increase frequency of joint Patrol in the Sulu and Celebes Sea with invitation to the extended to Brunei and Singapore to participate. Desired Results: (1) improved security in the Triborder Area; (2) confidence building; (3) improve interoperability; (4) Lay the groundwork for the evolution of the Asean Security Community. F.2Address the core reason for maritime crimes. i.e. socio-economic conditions of shoreline communities and issues governance F.3Conflict Resolutions F.4Regional Funding and Cooperation on the Coast Watch South project of the Philippines.

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