The military has denied reports that some Filipinos had been recruited
and trained by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda said today.
However, the former president, Fidel V. Ramos stated in an interview that
“The report that has been reaching us retired people – at least 100 of our
young Filipino Muslims have already infiltrated Iraq to undergo training to
return and be jihadists or militants”.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is yet to validate the report
after Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said some of his constituents had been
recruited and are now being trained by ISIS, Lacierda said.
“As far as the AFP is concerned there are no reports of such. We checked
with the Intelligence Services, and there are no reports of such,” AFP public
affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
Islamic State (IS) is a self proclaimed jihadist group claiming
religious authority over all Muslims across the world. IS is composed of
different militant and terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda and other Sunni Arab
terrorist insurgent groups. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is Islamic State’s known
leader.
The
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) also said earlier that they have
formed an alliance with ISIS but denied sending men to Iraq and Syria.
Lacierda
said AFP intelligence group had denied any information that Filipinos are
training and fighting with the ISIS.
ISIS is said to have originated from the Al Qaeda in Iraq.
