PH, NEIGHBORS PLOT ACTION VS MILITANTS
Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia plan to closely cooperate to halt the flow of militants, weapons, funds and extremist propaganda across their borders
The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia plan to closely cooperate to halt the flow of militants, weapons, funds and extremist propaganda across their borders as they expressed alarm over recent attacks in their countries.
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts gathered in Manila Thursday with top security officials to discuss a joint plan of action amid the siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.
A draft of a joint statement to be released after the meeting expressed “concern over the recent incidents of terrorism and violent extremism in their countries” and their desire to plot joint strategies to combat it.
On the eve of the trilateral meeting, President Rodrigo Duterte received a phone call from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.
“The call was productive and fruitful. They both reaffirmed the need to step up cooperation to address threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism,” Abella said.
Defense chiefs of the three countries signed in Jakarta, Indonesia last year a Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement.
In another meeting in Bali in August last year, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Indonesian Defense Minister General Ryamizard Ryacudu and Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein agreed to further explore coordinated activities among the Armed Forces of the three countries, a trilateral database sharing mechanism, and the concept of the Malacca Strait Patrol (MSP) to address maritime security concerns.
Ryacudu earlier claimed that there were about 1,200 Islamic State (IS) fighters in the Philippines. Lorenzana previously announced that some Indonesians were among several foreign militants allegedly killed in Marawi.
During the telephone conversation between Duterte and Widodo Tuesday night, Abella said the Indonesian leader assured Duterte of his country’s support in efforts to clear Marawi City of militants from the Maute Group.
Duterte, for his part, pledged to collaborate with Widodo and other nations in wiping out extremist groups.