Indonesian forces cannot just enter PH to rescue sailors – Gazmin

Outgoing Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin on Wednesday said that Indonesian security forces cannot just enter Philippine territory and conduct rescue operations for its seven sailors now being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu. There is a pact between the two countries allowing Indonesian forces to enter Philippine territory when on “hot pursuit” of terrorists and lawless elements. Gazmin stressed that the principle of hot pursuit, if applied, means that Indonesian forces may only pursue criminal elements or terrorists within our area if the incident occurred within their waters. The victims were reported seized by the ASG last June 22 off Sulu Sea. Voltaire Gazmin (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia) The 1975 border crossing agreement states: “Indonesian security forces are allowed to enter Philippine maritime zones under the concept of hot pursuit in the same way that Philippine forces are allowed to enter Indonesian maritime zones.” The [...]