Aguirre talks anti-terrorism with US official

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II met with a counter-terrorism official from the US Homeland Security Department on Friday to discuss "strong" Philippine-US ties in fighting terrorism, crime, and child exploitation.

Aguirre sat down with US Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary and counter-terrorism coordinator David Glawe, according to a press statement from the US Embassy in Manila.

"Their conversation reaffirmed our joint efforts to combat child exploitation, secure global aviation against terrorism threats, as well as identify and interdict criminals and contraband crossing our borders," said the press statement.

The US Treasury Department recently included the ISIS-linked Maute group, which attempted to hold Marawi City last year, in its sanctions list for global terrorism.

Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed this development.

US special forces assisted the Philippine military in countering the Maute group through technical assistance and enemy surveillance. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/DVM, GMA News