PH, Malaysia, Indonesia defense chiefs set for trilateral talks

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will meet his counterparts from Malaysia and Indonesia in the first week of August for trilateral talks.

The meeting in Indonesia is a follow up on the first meeting of the three countries held in June in Manila, the Department of National Defense said on Wednesday.

Last month, the defense chiefs, with then Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, tackled “cooperative means to address the growing security challenges that undermine peace, security and prosperity in the region.”

A Framework on Trilateral Cooperation Agreement on Immediate Measures to Address Security Issues in the maritime areas of concern among the three countries was signed on July 16.

The meeting comes amid kidnappings of Indonesians by the Abu Sayyaf group in southern Philippines.

The three countries are discussing possibilities of joint patrols amid hijackings and other criminal activities in Sulu Sea, one of the busiest sea lanes for cargo and passenger ships.