PHL, Malaysia, Indonesia agree on joint air patrols

Top Philippine, Indonesian and Malaysian defense officials have agreed to explore joint air patrols during their recent trilateral meeting in Hawaii to address increasing criminal activities in "maritime areas of common concern."

"Meeting on October 1, the three ministers agreed to explore joint air patrols even while their respective armed forces are finalizing the parameters for maritime patrol in the agreed upon transit corridor in what the three countries consider as maritime areas of common concern," said Defense undersecretary Raymund Quilop in a statement Monday.

He was referring to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Malaysian defense minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Indonesian defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, who met at the sidelines of the ASEAN-US Defense Dialogue.

Quilop said the planned joint air patrols are on top of the standing border patrol or maritime patrol agreements between the three countries to address common security concerns.

"Primarily driven by the need to address the rising incidents of armed robbery at sea, kidnapping and piracy in the three countries' areas of common concern, the trilateral meeting has evolved to be a platform for the defense ministers to address other emerging common concerns, to include violent extremism," said Quilop.

The Abu Sayyaf has abducted around 26 Malaysian and Indonesian nationals in Philippines, Malaysian and Indonesian waters over the past six months. Nineteen of them were released or have escaped.

The Abu Sayyaf is also holding captive four Filipinos and  a Dutch national in Sulu.

Government forces have stepped up operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan since August following orders from President Rodrigo Duterte. —KBK, GMA News