Japan offers help in addressing piracy, kidnapping problems in southern PHL

Japan has offered the Philippines, as well as Indonesia and Malaysia, assistance in addressing piracy and kidnapping problems in Philippine southern waters, a ranking defense official said Tuesday.

According to Defense assistance secretary Raymund Quilop, Japan made the offer through Vice Minister Ro Manabe during a meeting with Defense undersecretary Ricardo David at a meeting in Tokyo last week.

"He expressed Japan's readiness to contribute in the trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia in addressing piracy and terrorism," Quilop said, referring to Manabe.

Quilop did not elaborate on what Japan intends to contribute to the trilateral cooperation.

The Philippines' porous southern borders have become the area of operations of various criminal groups, including the Abu Sayyaf, which carried out a number of kidnapping in the past, mostly crew members of foreign tugboats. The al Qaeda-linked terrorist group is currently holding 27 foreign and Filipino hostages in Sulu.

Meanwhile, also during the meeting, Manabe assured the Philippines of Japan's support for the Philippine chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation this year.

He said Japan vowed to promote defense cooperation with ASEAN members.

"Japan is ready to pursue deeper defense cooperation with the Philippines through exchanges and defense equipment transfer, according to the vice-minister (Manabe)," said Quilop.

David, for his part, acknowledged Japan's contribution for the upgrade of the defense and military establishment, including the lease of five TC-90 maritime patrol aircraft, three of which are due for delivery next month. —KBK, GMA News