No credible ISIS threat in PH, says Palace

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma says security officials have not received “verified” and “confirmed” threats which the ISIS could carry out in the Philippines. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

There is no “credible and “verified” terrorist threat in the Philippines posed by the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Malacañang said on Saturday.

Quoting Philippine security officials, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said there is no basis to confirm the speculations against the threat posed by ISIS to the Philippines.

“There is no credible terrorist threat directly link to the ISIS. Validation of information gathered thus far has produced no basis to confirm such reports. The intelligence community continues to monitor threats to ensure proper response by the security forces,” Coloma said over state-run DZRB radio, quoting the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Coloma explained that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had said that there has been no “verified foreign terrorist presence” in the country.

“No credible and verified foreign terrorist presence has been established in our country and this is the reason we need not unduly raise our alert level. We call on our people to always remain vigilant and alert and to cooperate with the authorities. Our constant call is for a collective and participative security awareness and preparedness among our people,” the AFP said.

On Thursday, October 26, eight armed men carrying the flag of ISIS, including a suspected Indonesian national, were killed in an encounter with government forces in Sultan Kudarat.

The government troops recovered five ISIS flags and documents including radios, firearms and explosive materials from the suspects’ possession. IDL

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