Efforts to recover all ASG hostages to continue -- AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 30): Efforts to recover all ASG hostages to continue -- AFP

Military efforts to rescue all the remaining 26 foreign and local hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will continue until all these individuals are safely recovered and reunited with their families.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla made this pledge following the successful rescue of two Indonesians, three Malaysian seafarers and a Filipino tugboat captain from the clutches of the bandits in the past few days.

"Pursuit operations against the bandits will continue until all ASG captives are safely recovered," he said in Filipino.

With the recent successes, the number of kidnapped victims of the ASG went down to 26 from 32.

Padilla said there are some indications that some lawless groups are helping the ASG in their piracy attacks against barges and tugboats plying the waters near Basilan and Sulu.

Appropriate measures will be instituted to stop these attacks, he added.

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