DFA: PH to take bold and decisive steps vs terrorism

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 21): DFA: PH to take bold and decisive steps vs terrorism

The government has vowed to continue to take bold and decisive steps to put an end to threat of terrorism, as it works within the rule of law with international partners.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Duterte administration will work to eliminate “this nefarious threat, destroy their resource channels from illicit drugs and other crimes, and ensure that the Philippines will not be a haven for their operations.”

“As we work within the rule of law and with international partners, the government will spare no effort to achieve these objectives and secure a safe and peaceful future for the Filipino people,” it said in a statement.

The department issued the statement in response to the United States (US) State Department’s Counterterrorism Report which underscored continued progress of the Philippines against terrorism in 2016, a period that included the orderly transfer of power through a fair and free election.

The report cited the emergence of ISIS-affiliated extremist groups, persistent kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), attacks on government forces and bombings, which “all indicated that domestic and international terrorism remained a serious problem.”

“The report helps elucidate further the very clear and present danger posed by terrorism in the country,” the DFA said.

The report noted that the United States continued to work with the Philippine government to monitor and investigate groups engaged in or supporting terrorist activities in the country.

Likewise, the Philippines signed a framework on trilateral cooperation with Malaysia and Indonesia on immediate measures to address security in the maritime border region.

Government agencies benefited from capacity building activities provided by the ASEAN-Japan counterterrorism dialogue and the European Union.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1002155