President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
President Rodrigo Duterte spoke of threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to attack certain provinces in Mindanao when he met with Senate and House leaders on Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon made this disclosure on Wednesday when asked what Duterte discussed with them during the meeting at Malacañang the President hastily called.
Aside from the Maute group, Drilon said the President specifically identified the ISIS behind the terror threats in the region.
“He briefed us on intelligence information of new threats posed by the ISIS in the south and he is looking for a closer regional cooperation in the neighboring countries, particularly Indonesia,” Drilon said in an ambush interview.
Asked how serious the threat was, Drilon said: “In the President’s briefing, it appears to be serious. That’s what he said.”
“He informed us of that renewed threat because the secretary of national defense has requested for additional manpower, and, therefore, that would require budgetary allocation,” Drilon added.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said three areas in Mindanao are under threat.
READ: Duterte warns of new terror attacks in 3 Mindanao areas — Sotto
The senators also said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was requesting additional 20,000 soldiers to be deployed to the conflict-torn Marawi City from the President.
On May 23, Duterte placed the whole of Mindanao under martial law after members of the ISIS-backed Maute terror group attacked the city after government troops attempted to arrest its leader Isnilon Hapilon. IDL