Phl, Indonesia to step up fight vs terror, kidnapping
The need for intensified joint effort against terrorism, piracy and kidnapping dominated the discussions yesterday be- tween President Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“We recognized the need to address both traditional and emerging threats and expressed readiness to step up cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism, piracy at sea and transnational crimes, including the trade of illicit drugs,” Duterte said after emerging from his meeting with Widodo at the Reception
Hall of Malacañang.
“We reaffirmed the importance of our bilateral relations and signified our resolve to sustain the momentum of all our engagements, particularly in defense and security, trade and investments, agriculture, and sub-regional development connectivity,” Duterte said.
While the two leaders did not tackle the South China issue, Widodo pressed for the ratification of the agreement on Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Regarding maritime limitation, we agreed to conclude the EEZ agreement ratification this year and encourage an immediate conclusion of the Continental Shelf Delineation,” Widodo said.
In his speech, Duterte also acknowledged the Philippines’ and Indonesia’s close to 70-year-old formal diplomatic ties.
“Throughout close to seven decades, we have seen vast transformation in our countries and in our region,” he said.
“It is in this context of opportunities and challenges in our modern era that I met President Widodo to chart a path of collaboration to achieve greater peace, progress and prosperity,” Duterte maintained.
He also thanked Widodo for Indonesia’s sustained support for the peace process in Mindanao. “With Indonesia’s assistance and that of our friends, we are hopeful of turning the potentials of Mindanao into reality,” he said.
Duterte also noted Indonesia’s role in the development of Mindanao.
“In pursuit of just and lasting peace and development in Mindanao, we also sought to strengthen the BIMP-EAGA to bring progress where they are needed most,” he said.
“I am pleased with the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Sea Connectivity between Davao, General Santos and Bitung,” Duterte said. The two leaders will grace the formal opening of the new roll-on, roll-off route tomorrow in Davao City.
“This will facilitate trade and movement of goods. This deserves full support from both our governments,” he said.
Widodo and his wife Iriana Widodo arrived at about 1: 45 p.m. at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City yesterday.
Durian diplomacy
In showing deep appreciation for the Philippines, Widodo noted how delicious Davao’s durian is.
“Sobrang masarap,” Widodo said in Filipino, adding he was excited to visit Davao tomorrow.
Duterte had also charmed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by treating him to a snack of durian during the latter’s official visit early this year.
“Mr. President, it is very favorable that you and I have so much in common. We were both mayors of medium-sized city,” Widodo pointed out.
“I believe that you and I are not fancy people. I believe that you and I are driven by a healthy common sense and by our love for our people,” he added.
“I am excited that we will be launching the new RORO, Roll-on, Roll-off, between Davao, General Santos and Bitung in North Sulawesi,” Widodo said.
Prior to this, Widodo thanked the Philippines for the fruitful state visit.
“President Duterte, my delegation and I are extremely happy to be here. Thank you from the bottom of our heart for the warm and graceful welcome you and your government have extended to us,” he said.
“Our people have long been good friends. We share our love for rich fruits and for television drama,” Widodo added.
He also noted there are many Filipino executives and managers working in Indonesia while many Indonesians especially executives have come to Manila for studies.
Also yesterday, Duterte and Widodo witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agriculture as well as the joint declaration on the establishment of sea connectivity between Davao-General Santos-Southern Mindanao and Bitung in North Sulawesi.
On maritime security, Widodo noted that his country, the Philippines and Malaysia have agreed to launch maritime patrol cooperation as soon as possible.
On combating transnational crimes, Widodo said they also agreed to conduct a joint working group on counterterrorism this year expanding the coverage of the 2014 MOU on Counterterrorism Cooperation and strengthened intelligence information cooperation.
Inclusive growth
Earlier yesterday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Southeast Asian countries needed to ensure their economic growth is inclusive, or risk marginalized populations turning to violent extremism or even overturning political systems.
Speaking at an event for entrepreneurs during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Najib said the region was posting strong growth that could see ASEAN become the world’s fourth-largest economy, but that growth needed to be equitable.
“We do not want our citizens to be marginalized in the age of extremism and radicalization,” he said.
“We know that those who see no hope in their own societies are more prone to the siren calls of terrorists who can and exploit their vulnerability and fill them with their lies.”
Islamist extremism is expected to be high on the agenda during this week’s meetings, with fears for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about piracy and the rising threat of Islamic State.
Of particular concern is the ease in which militants can acquire weapons, seek refuge with existing rebel groups and move between the many islands spanning the three countries.
Najib lauded the success of ASEAN, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, in expanding its collective GDP to about $2.7 trillion now, from $87 billion four decades ago.
ASEAN has 10 members: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singa- pore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
He warned that economic disparity was dangerous at a political level too, fuelling anger and populism that was causing problem in Western Europe.
“The neglected underclass of those who felt left behind by economic growth, prosperity and globalization can overturn elections and political systems,” he said.
Economists frequently point out huge income gaps among the 620 million people of Southeast Asia, a region that has one of the world’s largest concentrations of billionaires, according to Forbes magazine.
Najib said awareness of ASEAN needed to be better promoted among its citizens to “make it feel real, relevant and tangible.” Trade integration was lagging, he said, with too many trade tariffs still in existence.
Their removal, and harmonized customs standards, needed to be “vigorously pursued,” he said.
Vice President Leni Robredo echoed Najib’s call for leaders to pay more attention to their poor.
“For many years, many thought income inequality was alright. But the voiceless and the powerless are now raring to be heard, and with technology and social media, their frustrations are being felt on a global scale,” she said in a speech. “They are rejecting globalization, democracy, traditional media.”
Stronger coast guard
In anticipation of the launch of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung ASEAN rollon, roll off (ro-ro) service, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will build up its forces in Mindanao.
“Most likely we would add personnel because this is a pet project of President Duterte so we should secure it well… We would study all possible measures that could be implemented to ensure the safety of travelers and smooth transport of cargo,” PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said.
He admitted pirates and bandits continue to pose threat to sea travelers in the area.
“We would increase our monitoring system and add fast boats. Our troops would be visible. And if there would be a security operation they should be able to respond immediately or if there is a threat they should be able to repel” the aggressors, he also said.
The PCG would vigorously inspect vessels along the sea route to conducting ship inspection, ensuring that there is no overloading of passengers and cargoes, and study the proposal for sea marshals to ride the ro-ro ships and go with them until it reaches port of destination.
He said that the government is also planning to open another trade route, this time between Palawan-Malaysia.
With the opening of these new trade routes between the Philippines and neighboring ASEAN nations, “we see the importance of the role that the Philippine Coast Guard would play in terms of assuring the safety and security of the passengers and cargoes,” said Balilo.
But for Mindanao Development Authority deputy executive director Romeo Montenegro, security and piracy would not be much of a problem for the new ro-ro service.
He said security issues had been addressed in past meetings between the Philippines and Indonesia and pointers had been drawn from the tack used for the “more problematic Sulu Sea area.”
“But for Davao-Bitung we are not seeing any such issues ever since in terms of security or piracy ever emerging out of this Celebes Sea,” Montenegro said in a press briefing at the ASEAN International Media Center.