TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Jose Rene Almendras have discussed the safety of four Indonesians still being held hostage by pirates in the maritime boundaries of the Philippines-Indonesia-Malaysia.

“I would like to extend my gratitude once again to the Philippine government for its help in the release of 10 Indonesians yesterday,” Retno said at Pancasila Building of Foreign Ministry, Pejambon, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

The meeting was held ahead of today’s trilateral meeting between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to discuss marine security issue. In the meeting, they discussed bilateral ties, particularly on the protection of Indonesians in the Philippines, the issue of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Indonesia-Philippine, especially the ratification of the maritime agreement signed by the two countries on May 23, 2014.

“We also highlighted ASEAN cooperation and regional issues,” Retno said.

Dozens of Indonesians were abducted by Abu Sayyaf radical group in the hijacking of two Indonesian boats in the Tawi Tawi waters off the southern Philippines in the end of May. They were being held hostage for roughly a month and had just been released recently.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will hold a meeting in Yogyakarta on Thursday. Philippine Foreign Secretary Jose said the trilateral meeting is a concrete measure for enhancing maritime security. “And we can work together to resolve security issue,” Jose said at Pancasila building on Wednesday.

Military chiefs of the three countries will also join the trilateral meeting. They will discuss the possibilities of maritime security cooperations in the Malaysia-Philippine waters, which is regarded by Indonesia as a vital sea route to the economy. The cooperation could take the form of patrols as well as joint military drills.

YOHANES PASKALIS