| The Philippines is tightening its porous southern maritime borders with Malaysia and Indonesia with plans for two radar systems aimed at choking a flow of militants and weapons. The southern Philippines, home to four homegrown rebel groups seeking a separate Islamic state, is widely suspected of being a training ground for regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah. âWeâre plugging that hole,â Lieutenant-General Rodolfo Garcia, the militaryâs vice chief of staff, said. âThese areas remained unmonitored for a long time.â Garcia said the defence department would open bidding in two weeks for the two surface radar systems. The contract should be awarded by May and the equipment in place by November, he added. |