Retno is in Manila for a trilateral meeting on counterterrorism with her Malaysian and Philippine counterparts, which will also feature military, police, intelligence and counterterrorism chiefs from Indonesia and its neighbors.
In the meeting, it was decided that Indonesia will host the next meeting in October 2017. The information and intelligence sharing centers establish designated sea lanes for ships in the seas along the countries' borders to prevent militants aligned to Daesh (the so-called IS) in the southern Philippines from fleeing to neighboring nations.
The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia closed ranks on Thursday, committing to tighten the noose on Islamic State (IS) militants in Southeast Asia like tightening the flow of funds to finance the terror cells operating in the region.
Defense ministers and military chiefs from the three countries launched the patrols in the Indonesian city of Tarakan in northern Borneo, just across the border from Sabah, Malaysia.
"As security concerns threaten the robust economic growth of the region, countries are forging a collective effort against terrorism and extremism", the DFA said.
Meanwhile, Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other international airports and seaports nationwide were placed on alert and ordered to be more strict in allowing the entry of foreign visitors to prevent possible entry of suspected foreign terrorists linked to the Islamic State. No country is immune from threat of terrorism.
He said immigration procedures should also be strengthened since they are the first line of defense in blocking militants who come in through the countries' airports.
Arevalo said Omar's reported death is a welcome development.
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He said extremists may choose to go to smaller provinces or smaller areas in Mindanao, radicalize young Muslims, sell portions of their land and convince non-Muslims that this was "legitimate jihad".
Aman Anifah, Malaysia's foreign minister, said social alienation and dissatisfaction encourage extremism, and counter-terrorism has become more challenging. At least 369 civilians and militants have been killed in the unrest.
"That is why we have in our database the names of thousands of suspected global terrorists that were given to us by the different law enforcement and intelligence agencies here and overseas", he said.
Many worry that the monthlong siege in Marawi could draw in the returning jihadis.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared martial law across the Mindanao on May 23 immediately after Islamist fighters waving the IS flag attacked Marawi.
"Whether or not I expand [martial law] to cover the entire Philippines is something else".
Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday brushed aside reports circulating on social media that the Islamist Maute group was planning to stage a series of bomb attacks in Metro Manila.
He said the information that the Maute brothers were killed by government troops was "very likely".
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