Rody, Widodo reaffirm commitment vs terror

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Indonesia vowed to work closely to combat terrorism in Southeast Asia as the Duterte administration continues to grapple with members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorist group in Marawi City. 

The commitment was made during a telephone conversation between President Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Wednesday night. 

The conversation took place before the trilateral security meeting among Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in Manila yesterday.

“The call was productive and fruitful. They both reaffirmed the need to step up cooperation to address threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing yesterday.

Widodo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to support the Philippines in countering terrorism, including restoring peace and stability in the south, Abella said.

“The President also welcomed Widodo’s expression of commitment and emphasized the Philippine government’s resolve to work closer with Indonesia and like-minded states to address these issues,” he said. 

Widodo called Duterte at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“They noted the importance of the trilateral meeting, which aims to foster cooperation against terrorism among regional neighboring states,” Abella said. 

On Tuesday, Duterte said he would discuss with Widodo the presence of Indonesian extremists in Marawi.

“I think most of the foreign fighters were Indonesians,” Duterte added.

Trilateral security meeting

The foreign ministers of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia reaffirmed yesterday their desire to work together to implement counterterrorism measures amid the incidents of terrorism and violent extremism in their countries.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Anifah Hj Aman met in Manila to enhance cooperation in addressing threats of terrorism in the region. 

The trilateral security meeting reaffirmed the three nations’ commitment to effectively address existing as well as emerging transnational challenges and threats that have the potential to undermine the stability and wellbeing of countries in the region.

The meeting was held at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

Malaysia proposed yesterday the formalization of the mechanism of the trilateral security meeting with the Philippines and Indonesia, seen as an urgent task evidenced by the conflict in Marawi City.

Malaysia’s foreign minister said the formal mechanism would include sharing of experiences and information that could be translated into concrete action.

“There is a need to agree to formalize our cooperation through the establishment of mechanism, which will include all stakeholders. This is an urgent task as evidenced in the situation in Marawi City. Countries must participate,” Anifah said.

The ministers agreed to task their senior officials to consider the proposed Plan of Action in the context of the following measures: enhance effort and cooperation in addressing the root causes and underlying conditions of extremism including but not limited to poverty, illegal drugs, crime and social injustice; promote social and economic development particularly in adjoining areas of the three countries; enhance the intelligence and information sharing among security and intelligence agencies on potential, imminent and real threats; stop the flow of terrorist financing; contain the spread of terrorism and terrorism-related content in cyberspace, particularly on social media.

Also included in the Plan of Action are measures to prevent the terrorist exploitation of information and communication technology and the dissemination of terrorist messages; stop the flow of arms smuggling as well as the movement of terrorists.

The proposed Plan of Action will consider the provision of specialized military and law enforcement training; support the trilateral cooperative arrangement and other sub-regional efforts to combat transnational crime; review and implement existing agreements on terrorism and make a cross-analysis comparison of each other’s laws on terrorism with a view to enhancing legislation.

It will also protect vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and the youth, from terrorism.

The foreign ministers agreed to hold their next meeting in Indonesia in October.

The Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter Terrorism, 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and the 2nd Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalization and Violent Extremism will be held in Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, respectively, this year.

The meeting was also attended by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo Año, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Indonesia General TNI Gatot Nurmantyo and Chief of Defense Force of Malaysia YM General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Indonesian National Police General M. Tito Karnavian and Inspector General of Police of Malaysia YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Khalid Abu Bakar also attended the meeting.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and chief of the National Counter Terrorism Agency Comissioner General Suhardi Alius were also present at the meeting.

Joint maritime operations by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to fight transnational crimes and terrorism in the Sulu Sea were launched on Monday in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia, just across the border of Sabah, Malaysia.

The launching of the trilateral maritime patrol was attended by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Earlier, Lorenzana said eight foreign jihadists have been killed since the fighting between government troops and Maute militants erupted in Marawi City last month. Among the slain jihadists were Indonesians, Malaysians, a Yemeni and a Chechen.

Ryamizard Ryacudu said there are around 1,200 Islamic State members in the Philippines.

The trilateral maritime agreement among Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines is expected to boost business in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an official said.

Ishak Mastura, ARMM Regional Board of Investment chairman, said the trilateral patrols in the region would help spur business activities in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Before attending the security meeting in Manila, Dela Rosa was present at the turnover of command at the PNP Regional Office 10 in Cagayan de Oro City, where Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb, his mistah at the Philippine Military Academy, took oer as the PNP 10 regional director.

Pacleb replaced Chief Supt. Agripino Javier, who retired from the police service yesterday.

The PNP chief said they have not monitored terror threats in Northern Mindanao, specifically in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.  –  With Pia Lee-Brago, Gerry Lee Gorit, Roel Pareño