"If the Philippines needs Indonesia`s assistance, we are ready to help the country," Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Military (TNI) expressed readiness to help the Philippines in capturing the pirates who had hijacked an Indonesian vessel and its crew.
"If the Philippines needs Indonesias assistance, we are ready to help the country," Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated here on Tuesday.
The minister remarked that a military patrol boat had been readied to anticipate accidents.
However, Ryacudu noted that the military could not conduct any operations in the Philippines without obtaining prior permission from the authorities.
The minister affirmed that the hijacking of the Indonesian vessel was different from the piracy in Somalia.
Ryacudu has coordinated with his Philippine counterpart over the piracy issue.
"Indonesia continues to monitor the developments in the hostage situation," the minister remarked.
According to national media, the Indonesian Embassy in Manila has confirmed that an Indonesian vessel was hijacked in the Philippines, and 10 Indonesian crewmen were taken hostage.
Embassy spokesperson Basriana could not confirm whether Abu Sayyaf militants, a group of Islamic extremists, were behind the hijacking of the Indonesian vessel.
The embassy continues to coordinate with the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao and other relevant authorities in the Philippines to gather more information on the situation.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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