MANILA/MARAWI CITY: The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed on Thursday to pool intelligence and tackle militant financing as fears grow that protracted fighting in a southern Philippine town could be the prelude to an IS infiltration of the region.
Foreign ministers and defence officials of the three neighbouring countries agreed to work together to share information, track communications and crack down on the flow of arms, fighters and money, amid what experts say is the biggest security threat facing Southeast Asia in decades.
Despite signs that the rebels battling government forces in Marawi City were on the back foot, authorities are worried that the fighting — now in its fifth week— might be the beginning of a wave of violence as the ultra-radical IS group tries to establish a foothold.
Malaysia Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told the meeting that extremism needed an immediate response, and constant engagement between the three countries that must be a “cohesive unit”.
“This is an urgent task that we need to undertake as clearly evidenced through the current situation in Marawi,” he said.
“This means our enforcement agencies must constantly engage with one another, not only in intelligence sharing but new active and innovative measures.” Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have launched joint patrols to control militant movements across their archipelagic region.
But experts point to how they have previously failed to work together to prevent festering militancy and banditry from worsening, plagued as they are by mistrust, dormant territorial disputes and limited capabilities.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday’s meeting aimed to revisit existing security programmes between the three and draw up a plan to strengthen and implement them.
His country was now a clear target for extremists, he said, and the region only needed to look at how quickly IS, or ISIS, managed to recruit fighters and carve out strongholds in Iraq and Syria. “These extremists will be looking for land bases or areas outside Iraq and Syria,” Cayetano told reporters.
“Everyone has their vulnerability, no one is perfect. “If other countries have nationals in Marawi and Mindanao and are extremists, they are as much a threat to their home country as here.”
A Philippine officer, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Tampus, said troops were blocking escape routes out of Marawi and rebels were hemmed-in and using civilians dressed in black as human shields. — Reuters
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