Philippines, Australia vow cooperation against militants

From The Gulf Today (Dec 10): Philippines, Australia vow cooperation against militants

Australia agreed on Thursday to help the Philippines improve its surveillance, intelligence and forensic investigation to prevent Paris-style attacks by militants in Southeast Asia.

At least five militant groups in the southern Philippines have pledged allegiance to Daesh, a militant group that has taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Canberra and Manila will step up exchange of information, concentrating on the flow of Southeast Asian militants travelling to and from Syria and Iraq.

The increased cooperation was discussed by top Philippine police officials with Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Federal Police Commissioner Neil Gaughan, who are on a tour of Southeast Asia.

“We always consider the potential threat posed by radicalised Filipinos supporting the Daesh,” said a senior police official, referring to Daesh, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to talk to the press.

“We are concerned with the risk of Daesh elements travelling to the country to promote violent extremism and, worse, to seek haven or use the country as a transit point in going to conflict zones.”

Counter terrorism officials from both countries are worried over the presence of about two million Filipino contract workers in the Middle East, some of whom are in Iraq and Syria and who may be inspired by Daesh.

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