00:00A wonderful over-the-hump Wednesday evening to all, Gabrielle Lopez here, homegrown, and happy to bring you PTV News Now, picking off our major stories for tonight.
00:13From a high of between 1,500 to 2,000 during the late 90s up to the middle of the past decade, the number of members in the Abu Sayyaf and other local terror groups have dwindled to 50, for the latest AFP assessment report.
00:27In today's latest presser at military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Francel Margareth attributed this welcome decline and development to
00:39sustained security operations, peace-building efforts, and strong community engagement.
00:46She also pointed to weakened leadership in these groups that discouraged recruitment and continued membership among the rank-and-file.
00:53Meanwhile, the AFP also pushed back. On foreign media reports, the father and son suspects in the mass shooting at a popular Australian beach spot spent a month-long training with extremist or terrorist groups in Mindanao,
01:06before heading for Australian in end November to plan and prep for the Hakuna massacre that eventually left 15 dead.
01:13Military intel gathered since 2016 to the present indicate no training activities, mass recruitment, and large-scale armed attacks from extremist and local terror groups since 2016, added Lt. Col. Padilla.
01:28It began with unannounced airstrikes on perceived boats laden with cocaine from Venezuela headed for Central America countries and ultimately to the United States.
01:41Over two dozen boats blown off the Caribbean and East Pacific and over 90 dead.
01:46Illegal drug suspects later, America has ramped up its anti-Maduro efforts by going big, as in hundreds of times than those four helpless speedboats.
01:55And yet another move, with greater pressure, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier today ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela through the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
02:07The latest escalate pressure move comes in the wake of our last week's seizure by U.S. naval forces of an oil tanker reportedly bound for Iran.
02:16U.S. arch-nemesis, much to the stunned surprise of the Venezuelan government and other nonpartisan countries.
02:23Then again, last week's commandering of a Venezuelan vessel was preceded by a week-long build-up of American naval assets of the coast of Venezuela after President Trump threatened a potential land assault.
02:35The tanker seizure drew no resistance from Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, who tried to gather international sympathy and support against Trump's escalated aggression acts with little success.
02:46So that's a wrap for this evening's show. Join us a new tomorrow for another round of stories here in Abroad, breaking at the hour.
02:55And always stay connected by catching the news right here.
02:58Gabriel Lopez reminding you all to rest well tonight and spread the Christmas cheer throughout the season.
03:03And thank you for watching PTV News Now.
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