AFP: Indonesian troops allowed only in PH waters

From ABS-CBN (Jun 29): AFP: Indonesian troops allowed only in PH waters

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clarified Wednesday that the involvement of Indonesian troops in the counter-insurgency operations of Mindanao is limited only to maritime patrol.

AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said the entry of Indonesian forces in Philippine territory is consistent with a 1975 agreement between Manila and Jakarta.

The agreement, however, only covers maritime patrol and does not allow the Indonesian military to conduct operations in Philippine soil, Padilla said.

"Part of that document includes an article on hot pursuit. This allows forces from both our Navies and Coast Guard to pursue pirates or criminals who are found committing a crime and they may pursue these criminals beyond their territorial areas, including maritime zones after passing international waters," Padilla said in an interview with "Mornings at ANC."

"As to the issue on land, that is not part and parcel of the agreement. It is still against our Constitution," he added.

Padilla's statement comes after reports that the Philippine government has given approval for the Indonesian military forces to enter its territory in efforts to gain the release of seven Indonesian sailors taken hostage by two militant groups in waters off the Philippines last week.

"They approved us to enter into Philippine waters and land," Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said, as quoted by Kyodo News.

Ryacadu said the arrangement was decided during his meeting with his Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin on Sunday.

But Padilla said that the arrangement is not applicable to the case of the seven hostages, since they have already been located.

"Whatever protocols that were discussed earlier are not part of the current situation that we have regarding the seven hostages that are already found to be in the hands of the kidnap-for-ransom group in the area," he said.

"These are talks and agreements that will be applicable to whatever future scanarios or situations that may come up."

The official declined to disclose the exact location of the captives.

READ: Abu Sayyaf demanding P230-M for Indonesian sailors - AFP

Padilla also confirmed that Indonesia authorities may fire upon bandit groups roaming Philippine seas, if necessary in future operations.

"Being able to exercise aggressive action against any of those who are committing criminal acts may be done at sea. It is warranted."

He added that officials from Manila and Jakarta are set to meet again soon to iron out the implementation of their 1975 agreement.

Padilla also believes that the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will uphold the arrangement.

"We all want to solve and we want to address the current situation and prevent any future abduction," he said.

"Much of the navigatable waters in these areas are frequented by the transport of goods between our countries, especially our coal requirements for our power plants. The soonest we can get this arrangement in effect is going to be good for our country and theirs as well."

Duterte has said that he could be open to talks with the Islamic militant group, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and kidnapped seven more.

"The Abu Sayyaf is not my enemy. I know it is connected with the issue of Mindanao," Duterte told supporters in a speech in Cebu late Saturday.

"That is why I want to ask them: are they willing to talk or do we just fight it out?" said the firebrand politician, who takes office on June 30.

Duterte also claimed his camp was responsible for successfully negotiating the release of one of the group's hostages, a Filipina who had been kidnapped along with several foreigners in September.

The bandits beheaded two Canadian hostages who were among that group. The fourth hostage, a Norwegian, is still being held.

Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/06/29/16/afp-indonesian-troops-allowed-only-in-ph-waters