Philippines says Indonesia can enter its waters to fight pirates

Like Mr. Duterte, Mr. Widodo is waging a hardline campaign against illegal drugs, even straining diplomatic ties such as its relations with Australia, after two its nationals were among those meted the death penalty in April previous year.

“I’m here [in Indonesia] to get an agreement with him (Widodo) because there is so much piracy in the seas – in the high seas between Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia”, the President said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was on a 24-hour working visit in Indonesia yesterday, told reporters on Monday he would try to intercede on behalf of Veloso with Indonesian President Joko Widodo “in a most respectful and in a very, very courteous way”. However, the tit-for-tat pay-backs between the two countries should stop since they could serve as a bad precedence in the future, he added.

Malaysia’s porous borders are often used by militant pirates, particularly those from the Abu Sayyaf terror network operating out of Southern Philippines, to carry out crossborder crimes such as hijackings and kidnappings. In recent months the group has executed two Canadian hostages and is now holding a Norwegian national.

The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to enhance maritime cooperation amid a territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

After a rocky worldwide debut, where his habit of lacing statements with profanity caused U.S. President Barack Obama to cancel a planned meeting, Mr. Duterte received a warm welcome in Jakarta.

This event is set at 11:30 am in at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta.

“President Duterte, we believe, is in the best position to take up Mary Jane’s cause”, read a Facebook post by Edre U. Olalia of the National Union of People’s Lawyers.

“There are matters that I can not tell you now”.

“We will do our part in contributing to the aim of a drug-free ASEAN community”, he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

As many as 18 drug convicts in Indonesia have been executed by firing squad over the past couple of years.

Widodo did not comment on drugs in his joint news conference with Duterte but himself has drawn global criticism over his implementation of the death penalty for drug convicts.