Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. R. M. Marty Natalegawa said the Indonesian government will continue to collaborate with its Southeast Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, in curbing terrorism.

It was recalled that world leaders had lauded the Indonesian government for a police raid which led to the killing of local bomb expert and terrorist Dulmatin last March 9. Dulmatin was one of the masterminds in the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 202 people.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMMM) in Manila, Natalegawa said the killing of Dulmatin in a raid is “absolutely” a welcome sign but said they will not be complacent in their efforts against terrorism.

“It is a message of success but we’re never complacent in going after the terrorist network,” he said.

“We’re not only (collaborating) with the Philippines but the entire Southeast Asia region,” he added.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said curbing terrorism is an “ongoing struggle.”

Natalegawa and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alberto Romulo have conducted a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the SNAMMM, wherein both foreign ministers expressed intention to further cooperate on counter-terrorism in the region through intelligence sharing as well as in promoting peace and development, including stronger collaboration in the Mindanao peace process.

“The Philippines and Indonesia share the vision for a more peaceful, progressive and prosperous region founded on understanding and respect between peoples and nations. We have worked closely on the interfaith dialogue initiative and we stand ready to further strengthen our cooperation on this,” Romulo said.

“Collaboration on counter-terrorism must continue,” he added.

Natelagawa, meanwhile, said that since terrorism has a “trans-boundary nature,” cooperation in "an agile way" will be vital, adding that they will also be pushing for cooperation on soft border management and ensure that it will “not be exploited by those who have ill intentions.”

Already on its 60th year, bilateral ties between Indonesia and the Philippines have been described as “robust and healthy.”

It was recalled that Indonesia facilitated the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) peace process, which resulted in the peace agreement in 1996. The Philippines have also been supportive of the Indonesian government in the peace and development in Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia supports the peace process in Mindanao as well as the Philippines’ bid for an Observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).