TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jokowi, Duterte discuss illegal haj pilgrims, Sulu Sea security
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he had discussed recent bilateral issues related to the illegal haj pilgrims case and Sulu Sea security with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte upon welcoming the recently inaugurated President to Indonesia at the State Palace on Friday.
Change Size
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (center left) waves with his Indonesian counterpart Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during their visit to the Tanah Abang Market at the start of their meeting in Jakarta on Sept. 9. Duterte is currently on a two-day visit to the country. (AP/Tatan Syuflana)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he had discussed recent bilateral issues related to the illegal haj pilgrims case and Sulu Sea security with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte upon welcoming the recently inaugurated President to Indonesia at the State Palace on Friday.
During a press conference at the State Palace following the meeting with Duterte, Jokowi conveyed appreciation to the Philippine president for the handling of the case involving 177 Indonesians who landed in legal trouble in the Philippines when attempting to go on the haj using illegally obtained Philippine passports. The case against 168 of them has been concluded and they were allowed to return to Indonesia, but Jokowi called on the Philippine government to swiftly resolve the case of the remaining nine people who are still in Manila for further legal processing.
Jokowi also welcomed the Philippine government’s assistance in the case of the possibly 700 Indonesians who apparently got away with the scam and are currently on haj in Saudi Arabia using Philippine passports.
"President Duterte had conveyed his wish that the issue be solved altogether. We would like to express our appreciation," Jokowi added.
President Jokowi also expressed thanks for the Philippine cooperation in maintaining security in the Sulu Sea, where a string of abductions of Indonesian sailors by Philippine militants have taken place.
"It is hoped that in the future there will not be any more problems pertaining to security in the Sulu Sea and we will conduct joint patrols to ensure security in that sea area," Jokowi said. (dmr)
