Duterte reiterates corruption, insists Abu Sayyaf problem must end in first AFP-PNP command conference

President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his campaign against corruption and his desire to put an end to the Abu Sayyaf Group in presiding over his first joint command conference with top military and police officials in Malacañang on Friday.

The command conference is an annual traditional gathering of the president with the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the Philippines National Police, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a radio interview on Saturday.

In attendance were AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año and PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa as well as key staff and unit commanders from both institutions.

Abella said top officials of the Philippine Coast Guard were also present during the command conference.

During the conference, Duterte was given a security update on the current national security situation and law enforcement activities of the police.

“Basically may security update tsaka nagbibigay ng mga current na mga law enforcement activities ng mga pulis,” Abella said.

“Tapos ang ginawa po ng Presidente, ni-reiterate niya ang kanyang guidance regarding corruption lalo na, sinasabi niya ‘yan kasi hindi naman nawawala ‘yan just like that and then ‘yung campaign against drugs and terrorism”, he added.

The President also reiterated his commitment to put an end to the activities of Abu Sayyaf Group in the conference.

“Maganda naman po ang nangyari, it was a short meeting… mga two hours siguro ‘yun pero it was a substantial and a very fruitful meeting at --- which puts the President in touch once more with this part, branch of government,” Abella said.

Duterte, as the president, also serves as the commander-in-chief of the AFP and PNP. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News