Aquino gets security briefing vs Abu Sayyaf

From the Sun Star-Manila (Jun 2): Aquino gets security briefing vs Abu Sayyaf

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III met Thursday the Cabinet security cluster to get an update on the ongoing military and law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

"The President received an update on the ongoing military and law enforcement operations against the ASG in Sulu as part of continuing efforts to bring about the safe release of kidnapped hostages," Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

Aquino met with the security cluster at 1 p.m. at the President's Hall of Malacañang Palace.

The security cluster, chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary, consists of the departments of the interior and local government, foreign affairs, national defense, and justice, as well as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the National Security Council.

Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police gave the Chief Executive updates on the security situation in Mindanao.

Coloma has said that the government continues to "exert determined efforts to bring about the safe release of the kidnap-for-ransom hostages through a combination of law enforcement and military operations."

Aquino has vowed to neutralize or at least minimize the strength of the bandit group following the beheading of Canadian mining executive John Ridsdel after the government failed to pay the P300 million ransom.

The ASG is still holding three captives — Canadian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, and Filipina Marites Flor – who were abducted along with Ridsdel in Samal Island in September last year.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/06/02/aquino-gets-security-briefing-vs-abu-sayyaf-477203