Duterte assures Nguyen to catch ASG for kidnap of Vietnamese sailors

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Socialist Republic of Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Phuc exchange pleasantries following a successful bilateral meeting at Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel in Singapore on April 27, 2018. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has promised Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc that he will not stop until he gets rid of the Abu Sayyaf Group for the abduction of Vietnamese sailors in 2016.

“His promise was he did not stop until he gets rid of and curbs those Abu Sayyaf bandits,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque made this statement in a press conference after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore.

In November 2016, six Vietnamese sailors were kidnapped by militants off Sibago Island in Basilan.

The group, known to behead hostages unless ransom payments are made, had released two of the six hostages last year.

Naval Forces were able to rescue three other hostages while one was beheaded.

Meanwhile, Duterte also thanked Nguyễn for his country’s warm reception to around 3,800 Filipinos working there.

Duterte also appealed for humanitarian assistance in favor of a certain Captain Rommel Aleria, who has been detained in Vietnam since 2016 for alleged illegal cross-border recruitment.