TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is scheduled to meet Filipino Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay on July 1, 2016, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Natsir. The meeting will take place a day after the handover of power to the newly elected Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte.
Armanatha said that the meeting will not specifically discuss the release of seven Indonesians taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group. "The meeting will not discuss the [hostage situation], but it will certainly be raised [in the discussion]," Armanatha said, Thursday, June 30, 2016.
Retno confirmed last Tuesday, June 28, 2016, that the change of administration in the Philippines will not disrupt the efforts to release Indonesian crew members of Charles 001 boat owned by a Samarinda-based shipping company. "The change of administration will not be seen an obstacle," Retno said.
Retno has also confirmed that all Indonesian hostages are in good condition. The Indonesian government and the Filipino government have also been monitoring their whereabouts. "They are taken by two different groups. However, I've been told that they are being held by one group now," Minister Retno said.
YOHANES PASKALIS