AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Muslim extremist group Islamic State does not pose any threat to the Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Wednesday afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office Chief, said that the group that has wreaked havoc over Iraq and Syria does not have any connections to the Philippines.
“There is none, they don’t have a capability here,” Zagala said. “We have not monitored any instances where they have come here in the country.”
Zagala also disproved the claims of former president Fidel V. Ramos that around 100 Filipinos have joined IS in Iraq, formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“As far as the AFP is concerned, we base everything on reports. There are no reports of such,” Zagala said. “We checked with the Intelligence Services, and there are no reports of such.”
Ramos said in a television interview that the Filipino Muslims who allegedly joined the hardline Islamic group would return to the Philippines as jihadists.
“We have monitored and there are no reports of such, not even names,” Zagala, who is part of the Philippine Army Special Forces, said.
But he said they are hoping that they can coordinate with Ramos, also a member of the Special Forces, on where the information came from.
Zagala added that the Abu Sayyaf video showing the rebel group pledging support for the hardline Muslims in Iraq is nothing but propaganda.
“We have reports of the video of Abu Sayyaf [members] showing their support for IS. They took their oath, but these are mere propaganda materials,” he said.
“There are no threats.”
Even with the absence of the threat from IS, the AFP continues to monitor for further developments.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation, especially that this is the interest of the AFP,” Zagala said.
RELATED STORIES