ISIS now in RP — PNP exec

From the Daily Tribune (Mar 13): ISIS now in RP — PNP exec

Elements of the dreaded Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) can be defeated if there’s enough intelligence gathering by the police and military to monitor if they have already set foot in the country.

An unnamed source from the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed this scenario despite repeated claims of the PNP and military that members of the dreaded organization are already in the Philippines.

ISIS is a militant organization known for its brutal attacks to pursue its goal of creating a Sunni Islam state.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), ISIS has more than 150 equally dreaded affiliates around the world.

The number of fighters the group commands in Iraq and Syria was estimated by the CIA at 31,000, with foreign fighters accounting for around two thirds.

CIA director John Brennan said ISIS is not easy to defeat because it has chemical weapons and very good in attracting new members. 

“In case they are here, we can beat them if the strategy is good,” the source, who requested not to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media, explained to The Daily Tribune in a chance interview.

The source cannot echo the same denial that some ISIS members have landed in southern Philippines because he is not in touch with intelligence operatives of either PNP or AFP.

The source, however, confirmed supporters of the group are already in some provinces in Mindanao. He didn’t elaborate.

“Their supporters are already here but the PNP itself cannot confirm,” the official, who holds the rank of senior superintendent, added.

When asked if the PNP and AFP have weak intelligence gathering capacity, the official replied “what do you think?”

He said the very long coastline of the Philippines makes it very difficult to monitor the entry and exit of people.

Meanwhile, Malacañang refused to comment on the threat of the Abu Sayyaf group to behead the hostages who were  abducted from a resort on Samal Island nearly six months ago.

Presidential Communications Usec. Manolo Quezon III said the government, like other countries, follows protocols  which include a policy not to negotiate with terrorist groups.

Recently, John Ridsdel, a Canadian mining consultant and one of the hostages, pleaded with the Canadian prime minister to meet Abu Sayyaf’s demand so their lives would be spared.

He made his appeal in a video posted recently  on a Facebook account linked to Philippine Islamists.

On Sept. 21, 2015, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) stormed a resort on Samal Island and abducted Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian and operations manager of the resort; Canadians Ridsdel and Robert Hall and his Filipina girlfriend identified only as Tess.

Meanwhile, Quezon said the government will keep in secret the information gathered by the AFP and PNP to protect the two Canadians, the Norwegian and their Filipino female companion.

In November last year, the bandits, through Ridsdel, demanded $21 million or P1 billion for each of the hostages.

A spokesman for Abu Sayyaf appeared in the recent video with Ridsdel, saying they will “do something terrible” against the captives if their demands are not met by the end of their one-month ultimatum.

Abu Sayyaf militants are also holding an Italian missionary, and men from the Netherlands and Japan.

The AFP rejected the other day the ASG’s ransom demand.

“The policy on no negotiations with kidnappers includes no payment of ransom,” Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Padilla said.

“We’re getting closer to them, hence, they needed to expedite the demand for ransom in order for them to escape from the hands of the law, which is closely catching up,” he added.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/isis-now-in-rp-pnp-exec