Indonesia, Malaysiam Philippines to Hold Trilateral Meeting in Manila

Jakarta, (Antara) - Indonesia, along with Malaysia and the Philippines, will hold an informal trilateral meeting to discuss counterterrorism on Sunday (Nov 12) on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines.

Spokesperson of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir noted during a press briefing here on Thursday that Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was scheduled to attend the trilateral meeting, which is a follow-up to the trilateral meeting held in June in Manila following the conflict in Marawi in the southern part of the Philippines.

"One of the main objectives of the trilateral meeting to be held in the Philippines is to discuss the situation in Marawi City. As we know that in the last several weeks, we have witnessed some positive developments in Marawi," Nasir remarked.

During the trilateral meeting, the Government of the Philippines is expected to present its report on the situation.

During the last trilateral meeting, the three countries, represented by their foreign ministers, military and police officials, and representatives of the respective institutions, had agreed on several action plans to develop Marawi City following the conflict.

Through the trilateral meeting mechanism, Indonesia is also expected to develop a cooperation framework on countering terrorism in the regions of the three countries.

In mid-October, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had declared Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence after government troops killed two top commanders -- Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute -- of an armed alliance linked to ISIL.

The five-month-long battle in Marawi resulted in more than one thousand people being killed and as many as 600 thousand being displaced.(*)