RP, Malaysian, RI officials to meet

RP, Malaysian, RI officials to meet

PHILIPPINES: Senior officials of the Philippines, Malaysia and
Indonesia are to meet in Manila on Thursday to forge joint
agreements on combating terrorism, a senior Filipino diplomat
said on Wednesday.

The two-day conference aims to come up with "specific
measures" on how the three neighbors can cooperate in fighting
terrorists in the region, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro
Baja said.

The three countries share a common sea border that pirates and
terrorists usually use to evade pursuing troops. Last year, the
Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the southern Philippines raided two
Malaysian resorts and seized 21 mostly foreign tourists.

Security officials here said the group could have also
smuggled firearms to Muslim separatists in Indonesia. --AFP