Agencies
The report that some Filipino rebels have been recruited by terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has upset a bishop in Basilan and he wants the government and Muslim leaders to do something about it.
“I hope the government could monitor the 200 Filipinos who are there. I hope our Muslim leaders will do something to neutralise this,” Basilan bishop Martin Jumoad said yesterday.
Jumoad is worried about the condition of the Filipino people, adding that it might be heightened when it will be done in Mindanao.
“The worry is there and it will be intensified when it is done here in Mindanao,” he said.
On Monday, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte disclosed that some Davao residents were recruited by ISIS.
He said that the Filipinos, who were recruited by ISIS, have left the country in July.
Jumoad said that the possibility that the Filipinos were recruited by the ISIS is “real”.
“There is a reason to be worried and the possibility is real. I’m really worried,” he disclosed.
The Philippine military said it was checking reports that some Filipino Muslims were training with ISIS.
Former president Fidel Ramos said last week that about 100 Filipinos were training to be jihadists in Syria.
“I will validate that and take a careful look if there is basis to that so that we can take appropriate action,” said Major General Eduardo Ano, an army division commander.
“I will ask our intelligence units to check, to verify if that information is valid.”
Local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the international Al Qaeda network, and the separatist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State via videos posted on the Internet.
The military previously denied reports about Filipinos being recruited by the jihadist group.
