ISIS in PH? PNP says info unverified

Syrian refugees, who want to enter Turkey with their animals, argue with Turkish soldiers at Yumurtalik crossing gate near Suruc, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. More than 200,000 people fleeing the Islamic State militants’ advance on Kobani, Syria, arrived in Turkey during last four days to find safety. AP

MANILA, Philippines—‎The Philippine National Police (PNP) allayed fears that terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had been recruiting members in the country.

‎But the PNP said that unconfirmed reports about ISIS recruitment in some parts of Central Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao reached the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence.

“This issue is continuously being monitored by our Directorate for Intelligence and as of now, there are information but they are considered raw and they have not yet been ‎validated or verified,” Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said in a press briefing Wednesday.

The PNP Public Information Office chief said ‎that “raw and unconfirmed” intelligence reports also found that the Jihadist groups have been recruiting Filipinos “in groups.”

“We can assure that the public has nothing to worry about if the ISIS has penetrated into the country,” Sindac said.

In August, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that some residents in their city have been recruited by the ISIS, and have left the country in July.

Duterte’s confirmation reinforced the claim of former President Fidel V. Ramos who recently said in a television interview that about 100 young Filipinos are training with the terrorist group.

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