Top security officials invited to Sulu dialogue

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Military and police officials will have their hands full when they attend a public dialogue on Friday in Sulu province to answer allegations that authorities facilitated the payment of ransom to Abu Sayyaf militants in exchange for the release of two kidnapped Germans.

The dialogue was an offshoot of a meeting on October 20 by representatives of various civil society groups and different sectors with Sulu Gov. Toto Tan, who heads the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and its special ad hoc crisis committee handling the hostage crisis.