PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his instruction to the government forces to crush the Abu Sayyaf bandits who continue to pose a national security threat, Malacañang said Saturday.
“The President stressed his commitment to end the [lawless activities of] the ASG, the Abu Sayyaf Group,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in an interview with state-run dzRB.
Abella said Duterte issued the order during the joint command conference with the police and the military held Friday at the Palace's Heroes Hall.
Addressing Abu Sayyaf's criminal activities using the full force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was among Duterte's campaign promise.
Abella also said the President had also tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bolster its campaign to end the country's drug problem.
The joint command conference was attended by high-ranking officials of the AFP and the PNP, as well as some Cabinet members.
Present at the meeting were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP chief-of-staff General Eduardo Año, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon. (Sunnex)
