Educational foundations deny terrorist links

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 14): Educational foundations deny terrorist links

Two educational foundations on Friday strongly denounced any claim they are involved in any illegal, criminal or terrorist activity in the Philippines and in other countries.

A Turkish ambassador reportedly claimed that Integrative Center for Alternative Development Foundation, Inc. (ICAD) and Pacific Dialogue Foundation, Inc. (PDF) have been accused by Turkey of being terrorists and instigating the 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey.

“ICAD and PDF have never been involved in any criminal activities, much less terrorist activities in the Philippines or elsewhere. ICAD and PDF are also not affiliated with any terrorist organization,” they said in a statement.

“We do not and have never had any links with any group involved in terror attacks,” added ICAD and PDF.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella earlier said the military was verifying the statement of Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur regarding the presence of Turkish terrorists, particularly the Fetullah Gulen Movement, in the Philippines.

ICAD is a private non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization established under Philippine laws on April 1996.

ICAD runs the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga City, Fountain International School in Metro Manila, and Academia Language and Review Center in San Juan City and Pasig City.

These schools do not teach religion and accept students of all religious backgrounds as ICAD’s mandate is to promote peace and understanding through education among people of diverse cultures.

PDF, meanwhile, is a non-stock, non-profit, educational and cultural foundation established by a group of Filipino and Turkish volunteers in 2011.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1000918