PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he was arranging a meeting with his counterparts in Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss closer cooperation in fighting terrorism in the region.
He made his statement at the 41st birthday celebration of Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles at the Mergrande Beach Resort in Bago Aplaya, Davao City.
Duterte said he was willing to open the country’s borders to Indonesian and Malaysian security forces pursuing terrorists.
“I don’t know how fast, but I have to talk to [Indonesian] President [Joko] Widodo,” Duterte said.
“We have agreed that we will talk, the three of us [including Prime Minister] Najib [Razak] in Malaysia.
“In all probability it will be a joint, like a task force. And I will open my borders to the Malaysian authorities and Indonesian authorities and I will be given an access.”
Duterte said the meeting with Razak and Widodo could be held in Sabah or Jakarta.
“If we are pursuing someone and there is not enough time, just hit them there. Even if it’s a Filipino, hit them. Or Indonesian here, hit them, Duterte said.
The three countries are already jointly patrolling the waters off Mindanao to prevent the entry of ISIS fighters.
They have also agreed to jointly control the movement of terrorist funds, weapons and even social media disinformation.
Duterte said the intention of his meeting with Widodo and Razak was to formalize an agreement.
He said as the ISIS fighters retreated from Syria and Iraq, its fighters might move to other countries.
“The ISIS is being cornered to the coastal towns of Syria and… natutulak na sila sa Syria. Once they lose base, wala na silang mapuntahan, papatayin talaga sila. Alam mo na Arabo, they will be executed, sisibat na yan. And then because they have access to some countries, bigla nalang sisipot kagaya nung sa Marawi,” Duterte said.
“We have to meet face to face and agree on an agenda for the talks.”
Duterte said that since the ISIS had already been cornered in Syria, there was a big possibility of its fighters moving to Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Philippine military had confirmed that foreigners have been seed fighting alongside members of the Maute group in Marawi City.
The conflict in Marawi has left about 800 people killed.
But the government has said the battle for full control of the city is in its “final stages” as the fighting has been confined within a 500-square-meter area.