AFP downplays warning of IS threat in Mindanao
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday downplayed the statement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that the Islamic State may gain a foothold in the country after the 16th Congress failed to pass the Bangsamoro basic law.
“We are not putting much weight on those pronouncement but we’re putting much weight on the ability of our local terrorist organization within the locality to recruit among the youth members,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters.
MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said in Malaysia that the IS and other rebel groups may take advantage of the BBL’s delay.
“But now after the non-passage of the [bill], we are quite concerned that they can capitalize on this because the [frustration] of the people in the area is now very strong,” he said in a press conference.
Ebrahim said that there have been efforts of penetration of the IS but these have not succeeded so far.
IS-inspired attacks have been launched in some parts of Mindanao in recent weeks. The military just ended a weeklong operations against suspected sympathizers of the IS in Lanao del Sur.
Padilla, however, was firm that there was “no direct, verifiable and credible presence” of international groups like the IS in the Philippines.
“Hindi kami naniniwala na ang frustration na ito ay nagbibigay ng mitsa sa lahat ng kaguluhan dyan.. But this is the warning that we have as an armed forces, if there are forces out there who will challenge the primacy of the peace process and who will challenge and try to disturb the peace we can guarantee you that the full force of the military will be applied,” he told reporters.
