TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu confirmed that the Filipino government has given the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) permission to be involved in the release of seven Indonesians taken hostage in the southern part of the Philipines.

"They have agreed, the legal basis is in place, it’s a concrete [step made] last week in the Philippines," said Ryamizard in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

Ryamizard said that the agreement was made in a meeting with his Philippine counterparts of both current and incoming administration. "They have allowed us to enter [their] waters, also on how we get back to shore later," Ryamizard said.

The Army Chief of Staff Gatot Nurmantyo has confirmed that the efforts to rescue Indonesian hostages are ongoing. However, he has yet to disclose what the government would do next. "You can ask the Defense Minister," Gatot said.

Gatot said on Monday, June 27, 2016 at the TNI Headquarters that the ransom demanded by the kidnappers was 200 million Pesos, or roughly Rp 60 billion.

The hostages were kidnapped on different occasions by two different groups on June 21, 2016. They were taken to two separate places. The TNI has traced one of the groups, called Al Habsyi. "Another one is still unkown and we are still checking their whereabouts," Gatot said.

YOHANES PASKALIS