JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed thanks and appreciation to all parties that have been involved in the efforts to release the hostages so far including the Philippine government.
Widodo also reiterated the importance of sea security in the border areas when announcing the release of 10 Indonesian ship crew members held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militant group.
In view of that, a meeting relating to it would be held on May 5 between Indonesia, Malaysian and Philippine Foreign Ministers and Defense Forces Commanders.
At the end of April before the release of the 10 hostages, President Joko Widodo has initiated a joint patrol by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
He said the process of releasing the 10 hostages who were abducted by an armed group in the Philippine waters some time ago was not a simple matter adding that all parties must understand and know that the issue of hostage-taking was not a simple matter as efforts to release the hostages involved many parties including formal and informal ones.