Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to co-ordinate activity in an attempt to counter Abu Sayyaf. The Islamist extremist group has been responsible for a spate of kidnappings and boat hijackings, resulting in the recent death of two of its Canadian hostages after Canada refused to pay their ransoms. Published: 8:05pm, 20 Jun, 2016 Updated: 2:54pm, 20 Jul, 2018 No cross-border agreement has been signed because the three sides are waiting for the new Philippine administration is waiting to be inaugurated. The meeting of defence ministers on 20 June followed a similar one last month between the countries’ prime ministers, in which calls were made to tackle the threat that Abu Sayyaf poses. In his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue this week, Mr Duterte said he would not allow any terrorist organisation to threaten or destabilise the Philippines.
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to co-ordinate activity in an attempt to counter Abu Sayyaf. The Islamist extremist group has been responsible for a spate of kidnappings and boat hijackings, resulting in the recent death of two of its Canadian hostages after Canada refused to pay their ransoms. No cross-border agreement has been signed because the three sides are waiting for the new Philippine administration is waiting to be inaugurated. The meeting of defence ministers on 20 June followed a similar one last month between the countries’ prime ministers, in which calls were made to tackle the threat that Abu Sayyaf poses. In his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue this week, Mr Duterte said he would not allow any terrorist organisation to threaten or destabilise the Philippines.