President Rodrigo Duterte may allow the entry of the Indonesian navy inside Philippine waters during pursuit operations against pirates in southern Philippines as he signed the joint declaration of maritime security cooperation with Indonesian president last Friday.

Duterte and Indonesia President Joko Widodo agreed armed forces of the two countries should coordinate in case there is pursuit operation against pirates or terrorist group.

“But entering the Philippine waters, we have agreed really also to just coordinate and if there is a pursuit, in the meantime, they can radio or call our forces nearby to take over because we are entering your jurisdiction,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he would allow conduct of pursuit operation of Indonesia “until such time that there is a competent Philippine authority that will take over in the chase.”

Duterte said Malaysia will also be part of the maritime security cooperation. “With Malaysia of course, it will be tripartite, because they (pirates) have, as I said, impeded trade and commerce between us,” Duterte said.

He said a strong security measure will be crafted to address the kidnapping and piracy at the borders off Southern Philippines.

“Because there is a lot of piracy there or piracy, if you may. And it has prevented the two countries from comfortably exchanging commerce and trade and because of the kidnappings and this issue with them, with the pirates; we will come up with a strong measure. I will wait for the draft but we?I and President Widodo, we have agreed to end this problem,” he said.

It can be recalled that defense officials of Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have met several times to discuss security measures to prevent kidnapping and other violent incident at the borders of the three countries.

The three countries are trying to security within their maritime borders amid series of abductions by the Abu Sayyaf against the Indonesian and Malaysian sailors crossing the waters of southern Philippines.

The Philippine military said the Abu Sayyaf are holding around 15 foreigners. These are eight Indonesian, a Dutch national, five Malaysians and one Norwegian.

Two Indonesian sailors were able to escape from their captors in Sulu last month. Robina Asido