International cooperation needed in negating terror threats

From the Philippine News Agency (May 16): International cooperation needed in negating terror threats

Further international cooperation in defense and security are among the initiatives which could prevent ISIS and other terror groups from gaining a foothold in the Philippines and other parts of the country.

"First of all, terrorism and violent extremism are threats that necessitate an international response. As such, the Department of National Defense (DND) has expanded our international defense and security engagements beyond our traditional allies," said DND public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong to the Philippine News Agency Tuesday when queried what steps the agency is taking to prevent terrorists from settling in the country.

This includes the recent trilateral patrol agreement with Malaysia and Indonesia so that terrorist activities in the common maritime areas in the Sulu Sea will be stopped.

"In addition, we have engaged traditional institutions in critical areas to garner popular support and effectively prevent the entry of terrorists and radicals in our communities," he said.

Andolong added that DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other ranking defense and military officials also went to the critical areas of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, known operating areas of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), to engage the communities and encourage the people to work closely with government security forces in negating these threats.

This includes getting the assistance of Muslim religious leaders also known as the "Ulamas" to counter ISIS recruitment efforts among the youth in Mindanao.
These can be done by giving Muslim youth proper spiritual guidance to counter the extremism and hate being propagated by the terrorists.

"The DND recognize(s) that our campaign against terrorism and violent extremism cannot be solved by military operations along. It needs a whole-of-country approach and every Filipino has a stake in it," he noted.

The DND official also pointed out that terrorism is anti-God, anti-people, and ultimately anti-Filipino.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/988138