The Department of National Defense (DND) has received a report from the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia that foreign terrorists have entered through the country’s backdoor.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are continuously conducting their intelligence gathering to confirm the veracity of the report.
“It is ongoing. We are intensifying our monitoring on the south and as of now we cannot confirm the presence of foreign terrorist but there are homegrown terrorists there in the south we are sure of that,” said Lorenzana.
The AFP for its part said that they are focusing on relatives of neutralized Maute fighters who may be supporting existing terror groups.
“In terms of skills and confidence, we have already diminished them but we are looking on another angle. It’s more on radicalization of the other youth members and supporters of ISIS-Maute,” said Philippine Army chief LtGen. Rolando Joselito Bautista
“It is ongoing. We are intensifying our monitoring on the south and as of now we cannot confirm the presence of foreign terrorist but there are homegrown terrorists there in the south we are sure of that,” said Lorenzana.
The AFP for its part said that they are focusing on relatives of neutralized Maute fighters who may be supporting existing terror groups.
“In terms of skills and confidence, we have already diminished them but we are looking on another angle. It’s more on radicalization of the other youth members and supporters of ISIS-Maute,” said Philippine Army chief LtGen. Rolando Joselito Bautista
Secretary Lorenzana noted that these homegrown terrorists are among the reasons why they recommended a one-year extension of martial law declaration in Mindanao.
“We requested for the extension of martial law because we believe that there is still rebellion there brought about our homegrown terrorists, the Maute group, assisted by some foreigners,” said the defense secretary.
The AFP chief said that the extension of martial law is a huge help for the military to move against the terrorist group.
“It does not mean that you will reduce or diminish the threat but we have a lever and call it as manageable risk,” said Bautista.
“We requested for the extension of martial law because we believe that there is still rebellion there brought about our homegrown terrorists, the Maute group, assisted by some foreigners,” said the defense secretary.
The AFP chief said that the extension of martial law is a huge help for the military to move against the terrorist group.
“It does not mean that you will reduce or diminish the threat but we have a lever and call it as manageable risk,” said Bautista.
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