Don’t fall for IS ‘propaganda’ video, AFP tells public

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 27): Don’t fall for IS ‘propaganda’ video, AFP tells public

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday dismissed as “terrorist propaganda” a latest video showing supposed members of Daesh or the Islamic State announcing the establishment of a caliphate or IS province in southern Philippines and installing Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon as emir or head.

At the same time, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. called on the public to delete and not to spread the video so as not to propagate its evil message.

“This is pure terrorist propaganda, let’s just ignore it and don’t share it,” he stressed.

“Let us not dignify the un-Islamic and evil message propagation that these satanic forces are making and churning out. Everyone should just delete it and not pass it on. This is the right thing to do,” the military official added.

Padilla, however, urged the public to be vigilant to thwart any attempt from the terrorists to disrupt peace.

“We should also work together to secure our communities by being vigilant, alert and ever mindful of this evil scourge,” he said.

In the 20-minute video, three supposed IS militants – a Filipino, a Malaysian and an Indonesia, are urging their followers to troop to the Philippines if they can’t afford to join IS ranks in Syria.

The Filipino militant, who spoke fluent Tagalog, announced the appointment of Hapilon as the emir of IS province in southern Philippines.

The US-based Long War Journal of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies which was an offshoot of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, branded the video as an indication that the IS has officially created a province in the Philippines “after months of buildup which included pledges of loyalty from various local groups.”

The newly released video from the region, which was produced in the same style as all other Islamic State provinces, offered confirmation of the new province, it added.
The video begins by showing several “battalions” of the ASG pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.

The supposed battalions included the Abu Dujana Battalion, Abu Khubaib Battalion, Jundallah Battalion and the Abu Sadr Battalion.

“These battalions joined others from ASG, including Jund al Tawhid, Ansar al Sharia, and Marakah al Ansar in pledging bay’ah (an oath of allegiance) to the Islamic State. Additionally, some of ASG’s leader, including overall leader Hapilon, have pledged to the jihadist group,” according to the paper.

The video also issued a warning to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte of their potential activities as they have urged their followers to target the Philippines.

The Filipino IS members asked followers not to be cowed by Duterte’s tactics.

“Take care and be strong, do not be swayed by the deceptive tactics of the newly-elected (President Rodrigo) Duterte. May he be cursed by Allah,” one of the terrorists said in Filipino.

In the same video which was, according to reports, shot in Syria, Mohd Rafi Udin, a Malaysian IS leader, told their followers and potential recruits to go to the Philippines instead of going to their main jihad front Syria.

“If you cannot go to (Syria), join up and go to the Philippines,” Udin said.

Udin also urged Muslims to unite under the leadership of Hapilon who is also named Abu Abdullah who pledged allegiance to Islamic State in January.

Hapilon is on the FBI’s most wanted list for his role in the kidnapping of 17 Filipinos and three Americans in 2001 and carries a bounty of $5 million.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/don-t-fall-for-is-propaganda-video-afp-tells-public