Turkish group not terrorists

The military does not consider the Fetullah Gulen movement as a terrorist group, the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said yesterday.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año told reporters in Malacanang that the Turkish group’s activities in the Philippines were “helping the community.”

“The Fetullah Gullen movement we do not consider that as a terrorist group. Right now, their activities here are helping the community,” the military chief said.

Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur earlier warned against the activities of Turkish terrorists “particularly the Fetullah Gulen Movement” in the Philippines. She said the group has been in the Philippines since the late 1990s.

“Probably, the ambassador of Turkey has her own basis why she said that,” Año said. —Philip C. Tubeza