Indon kidnap case a test for trilateral treaty

Rescue operations by Philippine government forces for three Indonesians held hostage by Muslim bandits in Mindanao are viewed by Jakarta as a test for a trilateral anti-terrorism treaty, Malacañang said yesterday.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda met with former congressman Eduardo Ermita, President Arroyo’s senior adviser on the peace process, and asked to be updated on the rescue operations.

The meeting between Ermita and Wirayuda took place during the annual convention of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Sudan.

The three-nation agreement to fight terrorism was signed last May by the governments of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia for joint efforts to curb cross-border terrorism and other crimes.

Wirayuda told Ermita that his government has no objections over the conduct of a joint police-military operation to recover the three Indonesians held by local pirates in Luuk town in Jolo island, which is part of Sulu province.

Armed men believed to be Muslim pirates boarded a tugboat hauling a coal-laden barge near the island-province of Basilan and seized four Indonesian seamen last month.

One of the victims, second officer Ferdinan Joel, escaped two days later, leaving their skipper Muntu Jacobus Winowatan, chief officer Julkipli and chief engineer Pieter Lerrech still in custody of the kidnappers.

Ermita assured Wirayuda that Mrs. Arroyo gave a "strong directive to the military and the police to run after the kidnappers and recover the Indonesians."

A crisis committee led by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Parouk Hussin has been created to monitor the rescue operation. –Paolo Romero, AFP report