When Prabowo Visits TNI Soldiers Guarding Indonesia's Northernmost Tip in Miangas...

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto suddenly stopped at an Army Post while en route to the inspection site in Miangas Sub-District, Kepulauan Talaud Regency, North Sulawesi, on Saturday (9/5/2026).

Miangas is Indonesia’s northernmost outer island, closer in distance to the Philippines.

The Maung MV3 tactical vehicle of the Command carrying Prabowo suddenly halted at the post.

The stop was said not to be part of the President’s official agenda but was done spontaneously as the vehicle convoy passed in front of the guard post.

Upon seeing this, Prabowo instructed the vehicle to stop.

Prabowo then alighted from the car to directly approach and greet the two soldiers.

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Deputy Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya were also seen at the location.

Citing a video from the Presidential Secretariat on Sunday (10/5/2026), the two soldiers on duty at the Miangas Army Post were Sergeant Two Alan Mandibo from Yonsipur 19 and Private Armoko from Korem 131.

“It felt like chatting directly with Sir; we felt a sense of pride for ourselves as soldiers. Because this is the first time we’ve met Sir directly, greeting, shaking hands, chatting a bit, and also showing our barracks or post,” said Alan.

In the conversation, Prabowo also asked various things related to the soldiers’ lives in Miangas, including the need for clean water.

“What was asked by Mr President was about our water source, for our daily needs for cooking as well as for bathing and washing. We answered, we have a well and the well is clean,” Alan continued.

Furthermore, said Alan, Prabowo also asked about the length of the assignment period, up to the family conditions of the soldiers.

They assessed Prabowo as a firm figure but close to the soldiers in the field.

“In my opinion, Sir is firm, then attentive to the members. And in my opinion, Sir is very caring so earlier when he first came, he directly stopped and headed to our post,” said Armoko and Alan alternately.

The two soldiers admitted they did not expect to meet face-to-face with the President at their assignment location at the northern tip of Indonesia.

“We didn’t expect it, we didn’t expect at all to meet face-to-face directly with Mr President,” he added.