AFP: ISIS claim in Basilan encounter ‘mere propaganda’
The military has denied that terrorist group Islamic State had a hand in the April 9 clash between government forces and members of the Abu Sayyaf group that resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers in Basilan province.
In an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Thursday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla dismissed ISIS’ claim as mere propaganda.
In a Reuters report released on Thursday, ISIS was quoted as saying: “With the grace of god we were able to detonate seven trucks carrying soldiers.”
READ: ISIS claims responsibility for deaths in Basilan encounter–report
“Ang masasabi lang po natin dito ay isa po ito talagang attempt for propaganda na naman. Kase palagi pong inconsistencies ’yong announcement na ’yan,” Padilla said.
The AFP spokesperson debunked the claims made by ISIS that its allies were able to bomb seven trucks carrying government forces and that 23 soldiers perished in the encounter.
“[Yung] [in]consistency nila ay 23 daw po ang namatay at mali na naman po. At pito daw po ang napasabog nilang truck, mali naman po dahil wala ni isa pong truck tayo na napasabog ng grupong yan,” Padilla said.
The AFP spokesperson said a certain “Muslim community” was behind the spreading of propaganda that the encounter was instigated by ISIS.
“Kase meron pong Muslim community diyan na nagpahayag ng pighati at nagsasabing inspirado sila ng grupong Daesh. So dito po sa mga inconsistencies na ’to nakikita natin na sinasakyan na po at maaring napansin na po nila yong mga grupo na nagsabing pumanig sa Daesh,” he said.
The 10-hour encounter between Abu Sayyaf and government forces in Bagindan village, Tipo-tipo town in Basilan province resulted not only in the deaths of 18 soldiers but also of 31 bandits.
One of those slain in the clash is Moroccan terrorist is Mohammad Khattab, whose alleged linked to ISIS is still being verified by Philippine authorities. With a report from Gwen Stephanie Bumanglag/RC
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