Palace: ISIS allegedly eyeing Mindanao as stronghold a 'cause for concern' | Inquirer News

Palace: ISIS allegedly eyeing Mindanao as stronghold a ’cause for concern’

/ 03:47 PM March 12, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The reported recruitment of international terror organization Islamic State (ISIS) in southern Philippines is a “cause for concern,” Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the remark in response to a New York Times report saying that the terror group, after losing its territory in Iraq and Syria, is now eyeing Mindanao as its new base for its so-called “East Asia province.”

“We should undertake measures to prevent that from happening,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Article continues after this advertisement

According to the report, the ISIS territory in Iraq and Syria, which was “once the size of Britain,” has shrivelled after four years of American-backed bombing.

FEATURED STORIES

“But far from defeated, the movement has sprouted elsewhere. And here in the Mindanao island group of the southern Philippines, long a haven for insurgents because of dense wilderness and weak policing, the Islamic State has attracted a range of militant jihadists,” it added.

President Duterte had earlier ordered government troops to annihilate terrorists and enemies of the state following the twin explosions at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu that killed at least 20 people and injured almost 100, an attack claimed by the ISIS terror group.

Article continues after this advertisement

In 2017, the Maute Group, which had pledged allegiance to ISIS, took over the city of Marawi in Mindanao.

The five-month battle in the Islamic City left at least 900 militants killed, including foreign fighters and Isnilon Hapilon, the Islamic State’s East Asia emir. /je

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: ISIS, Local news, Malacañang, Nation, national news, News, Rodrigo Duterte, Terrorism

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.