The Government of Indonesia through the Consul General recognized the dedication and commitment of the officers and personnel of Joint Task Force (JTF) Tawi-Tawi in strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines.
On June 26, Indonesian Consul General Dicky Fabrian personally awarded a Certificate of Commendation to JTF Tawi-Tawi Commander Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas for the concerned effort and assistance of the unit in rescuing the four Indonesian kidnap victims of the Abu Sayyaf Group last March 18 and 21 this year.
According to Consul General Fabrian, the invaluable contribution of the Marines exemplifies their dedication and commitment to the mutual interest of the two countries.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you all. Let us continue to intensify our good relations for the common good,” Fabrian said.
The awarding and handing over of tokens to the Marines was held at the 2nd Marine Brigade headquarters in Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
In his message, Brig. Gen. Rojas thanked the Consul General for the commendation.
“Rest assured that we will continue our efforts to enhance our mutual cooperation and interoperability for the benefit of both the Indonesians and the Filipinos, and our neighboring countries,” he said.
In March 2021, joint troops of JTF Tawi-Tawi and the Philippine National Police successfully rescued four Indonesian kidnap victims and neutralized ASG Sub-leader AKA ‘Apo Mike’ in Tawi-Tawi.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command, extended his gratitude to the Indonesian government through Consul General Fabrian for recognizing the efforts of the Philippine soldiers.
“I hope that our successes will foster better understanding among us while we continue to address security concerns on our shared maritime waters,” Vinluan said.
During his visit to Tawi-Tawi, Consul General Fabrian was accompanied by Puguh Tedjobaskoro, Protocol and Consul Affairs Officer; Galih Priya Kartika Perdhana, Immigration Officer; Commander Bambang Widodo, Chief Indonesian Liaison Officer; and other staff.
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