Duterte asks Malaysia, Indonesia to ‘blast pirates out of the seas’ to keep regional waters safe

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would ask the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia to “blast” pirates out of regional waters and would refocus security efforts to solve the problem.

The Abu Sayyaf, a kidnap-for-ransom network that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, has been abducting dozens of sailors on fishing vessels and cargo barges, prompting warnings the region could become the “next Somalia”.

Duterte’s remarks came two days after he declared the southern city of Marawi “liberated from terrorists’ influence” following a nearly five-month battle against militants including Abu Sayyaf members.

“Blast them out of the seas to keep our shipping lanes open and safe. They have committed enough piracy there, enough money collected from ransoms,” Duterte said in a speech at a forum for Southeast Asian diplomats and leaders in Manila.

“I just finished the war in [Marawi] then perhaps I can refocus the entire armed forces to deal with this problem once and for all.”