| PGMA's Statement during the Presentation to the media of escaped Abu Sayyaf kidnapped victim, Indonesian National Mr. Julkipli |
State Dining Room, Malacanang (28 Mar 2003) |
| I AM GLAD THAT MR. JULKIPLI, AN
INDONESIAN NATIONAL, WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM HIS ABU SAYYAF CAPTORS AS A RESULT OF THE
PRESSURE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS BROUGHT TO BEAR UPON THE TERRORIST GROUP. I COMMEND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES UNDER GENERAL SANTIAGO AND THE SOUTH COMMAND ESPECIALLY UNDER GENERAL ABAYA FOR THEIR UNRELENTING OFFENSIVE. THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THAT THERE WILL BE NO LET UP IN OPERATIONS UNTIL ALL THE REMAINING HOSTAGES ARE RESCUED AND ULTIMATELY, UNTIL THE ABU SAYYAF IS DECISIVELY BEATEN. I ASSURE THE FAMILIES OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES THAT ALL EFFORTS SHALL BE TAKEN TO RESCUE THEM SAFELY. THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT WAS INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF OUR OPERATIONS TO RESCUE THE NATIONALS. WE SHARED WITH INDONESIA A STRONG ABHORRENCE OF TERRORISM AND OUR PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM EXTENDS ACROSS THE SEAS THROUGH A MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT WE BOTH SHARE WITH MALAYSIA, THAILAND, CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY IN CHECKING THE MOVEMENT OF TERRORISTS, FIREARMS AND MATERIAL. THIS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BEARS AN AFFINITY TO WHAT'S GOING ON HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD. THERE IS A COALITION TO DISARM IRAQ OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND STOP THE HARBORING OF TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISTS CELLS THAT COULD USE THESE WEAPONS ELSEWHERE. THE THREAT OF TERRORISTS USING SUCH WEAPONS CONFRONTS ALL MANKIND, AND THE PHILIPPINES IS NO EXCEPTION. WE MUST ALWAYS BE ON GUARD IN CHECKING TRANSNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TERRORISTS. WE TURN OVER MR. JULKIPLI TO THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE HOPE THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM WILL ALWAYS BE STRONG AND ENDURING. |