Duterte confirms ISIS recruited Filipino rebels

By: Aries Joseph Hegina - 10 years ago

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that some Davao residents were recruited by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

In a television report, Duterte said that Filipinos who were recruited by ISIS have left the country in July.

The Davao City mayor also said that he does not condemn the decision of those who joined ISIS as long as it would not wreak havoc in the country.

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

However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dismissed the claim of Ramos, citing an AFP military intelligence report that revealed that no Filipino rebels were seen training with ISIS.

The AFP later said that Duterte’s claims are unverified.

“We haven’t covered any valid intel or any valid information,” Lieutenant General Eduardo Año, 10th Infantry Division (ID) Commander, said. “We have not reported any of the local jihadists leaving the country.”

On Friday, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), a militant Muslim organization, said that it has formed an alliance with ISIS.

BIFM, however, denied that they have sent men to Iraq and Syria to train or fight alongside with ISIS forces.

ISIS is said to have emanated from the Al Qaeda in Iraq.