Duterte's potential visits could strengthen security agreement with Indonesia, Malaysia
By Cristina Mendez (philstar.com) |
A Philippine Navy Multipurpose Attack Craft on patrol in 2014. File photo
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines is hoping to further strengthen its security agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia with President Rodrigo Duterte’s potential official visits to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in the next two to three weeks.
In a press briefing, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte would rather skip the official visits to ASEAN countries but he also recognizes the “tradition” of doing so as a new president.
“It’s really part of tradition. In fact, he’d rather stay here, but it’s part of tradition that the new president visits," Abella said.
"We're also preparing our leadership... When we take over [the chairmanship of] ASEAN, that’s part of the preparation. After Laos, we'll be taking over,” Abella added.
Duterte's advisers have recommended that the president to kick off his ASEAN visit before going to Laos for the turnover of the chairmanship to the Philippines, which will be hosting the ASEAN summit next year.
Abella explained that the Philippines will basically reiterate its commitment in “keeping safe porous points, keeping safe from terrorist groups and making sure there are secured sea passage in the area in the borders” shared by the three countries.
“These are up to them. Part of it is the security which has been raised in Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines agreements regarding porous borders... addressing terrorism, and economic possibilities. These are some of the talking points,” Abella added.
Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay in Malate, Manila, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak discussed regional cooperation among the three countries earlier this week.
Securing common borders
Dureza said that the recent trilateral (Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia) meeting of the security sector, specifically dealing with the security situation in common borders and the establishment of a secure sea lane to counter terrorists and criminal threats, is significant.
“We have a very close proximity between Malaysia and Sulu. Unless we solve this problem, the security will always pose dangers on our economic growth in the area,” Andanar, who was also in the entourage that went to Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
The security concerns, along with the need to revitalize the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), were among the major concerns Najib raised in the meeting with Dureza.
“The prime minister also reiterated [the need] to establish sea lanes between the Philippines and Malaysia, and Philippines and Indonesia… Anything outside those sealanes will be deemed hostile seas,” Andanar added.
Andanar cited the strength of the defense capability of the Indonesian and Malaysian navies, which can also help boost the country’s defense in the waters of Southern Mindanao, where members of the Abu Sayyaf Group conduct their kidnapping operations.
“We know how superior the Malaysian Royal Navy and the Navy of Indonesia is, so with cooperation… we will have a trilateral agreement among the three countries, which will make it easier for us to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group,” he said.
Andanar made the report after the government and NDF panels wrapped up their initial talks in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend. Malaysia welcomes the possibility that the president may visit Kuala Lumpur, officials said.
Regional cooperation
In his report, Dureza said Najib also stressed the importance of the economic development in Mindanao to ensure long-lasting stability and the need for regional cooperation in order to address the growing threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) extremist elements, kidnap-for-ransom groups and transnational crimes.
On July 20, the defense chiefs of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia concluded a trilateral defense ministers’ meeting at the EDSA lounge of the Department of National Defense at Camp Aqguinaldo in Quezon City.
They discussed the growing security challenges in the region, including the maritime area of common concern to the three countries and the recent incidents of kidnapping and arm robbery incidents at sea. The ministers reaffirmed the commitment of the countries to address the threats that undermine peace, security and prosperity in the region.
