Duterte calls on Malaysia, Indonesia to 'blast' pirates out of the sea

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seen here earlier this month, threatened Thursday to expel European ambassadors, accusing their governments without citing evidence of plotting to get Manila expelled from the United Nations.

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (Oct 19) said he would ask the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia to “blast” pirates out of regional waters and would refocus security efforts to solve the problem.

The Abu Sayyaf, a kidnap-for-ransom network that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, has been kidnapping dozens of sailors on fishing vessels and cargo barges, prompting warnings the region could become the “next Somalia”.