Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — Foreign ministers, top security, and intelligence officials from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia met Thursday afternoon to discuss ways to combat extremism.
The trilateral meeting focused on the fight against extremism – an urgent matter especially for the country because of the ISIS-linked terrorist operations in Marawi.
With the Maute group in Marawi believed working with foreign terrorists including Indonesians and Malaysians, the forum would help the Philippines identify foreign terrorists and prevent their entry.
The talks aim to establish mechanisms to boost intelligence and information sharing.
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said they’re eyeing a system similar to how immigration offices of different countries work, especially when it comes to tracking down people.
“Kailangan yung intelligence natin from point A to point B to point C kumpleto. Wala kaibahan yan sa Immigration na kung tingin natin may sindikato dito nasusmuggle ng tao, natatraffic ng tao, iba yung ma-alert mo na rin sila para pag pumasok sa kanila,or pag lumabas sa kanila, saluhin dito,” he said.
[Translation: It’s necessary that our intelligence – from point A to point B to point C – is complete. This is no different from the Immigration where when we think that there are syndicates who smuggle people, who traffic people, they have to be alerted so when these people enter or leave the country, there will be action.]
The foreign ministers also tackled ways to fight the use of social media as a means for terrorists to spread disinformation and propaganda.
“In the past, terrorists retained a sense of self preservation, unlike today. It is far more difficult to stop people who are ready to die. Secondly, technology has enabled terrorists to spread the message faster and more broadly than ever before,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Haji Aman said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed the need for cooperation among countries.
“The threat that we are facing is imminent. No action is not an option. It is incumbent on upon us to embark on taking concrete action. This is also due to the fact that the threat of terrorism is even more worrying because of…social media factors. Therefore, cooperation among the three of us is a necessity,” she said.
Cayetano acknowledged Indonesia and Malaysia for supporting the country’s fight against terrorism.
The three countries are looking at having a technical meeting by the end of the year in Indonesia.
Cayetano says they eventually hope to get other ASEAN members to join their effort.
