No evidence of ISIS in Mindanao, says US envoy | Global News

No evidence of ISIS in Mindanao, says US envoy

/ 02:29 PM November 14, 2014

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. AFP FILE PHOTO

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. AFP FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The Abu Sayyaf’s use of the “Islamic caliphate” flag, as shown in a recent video released by a Sulu faction of the extremist group, has not convinced US Ambassador Philip Goldberg that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has indeed reached the Philippines.

“I have no confirmation that ISIS is present in the Philippines. I have heard and seen those statements; there have been statements made here alleging some sort of involvement with ISIS (but) we have no confirmation of that,” Goldberg told reporters during a visit here Friday.

Article continues after this advertisement

He said with all sorts of claims being made in public, Filipinos should be discerning about the information that they get.

FEATURED STORIES

“I would urge people to take all that with the grain of salt,” he said.

But Goldberg admitted that there were indeed “people who have tried to align themselves, at least historically, with ISIS.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“But I cannot confirm that there is any linkage,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

On reports that some Filipinos went to the Middle East to fight alongside ISIS, he said Washington was concerned.

Article continues after this advertisement

Goldberg didn’t actually mention the ASG by name but noted that everybody was “concerned about the issue of foreign fighters and of the people going to the Middle East from various countries, and again we don’t have confirmation of that from the Philippines.”

“I know the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine government take it very seriously as we do and we’ll keep close eye on it,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

But then, he said that “everybody should not take these (reports) at face value.”

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said what was obvious was that the Abu Sayyaf was “just riding on the popularity of the ISIS in the international forum.”

“So we believe it is just but a local propaganda but they don’t have direct linkage to the international group,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero claimed Malaysian militant Dr. Mahmud Bin Ahmad was in Basilan.

Ahmad, alias Abu Handzalah, 36, is a known recruiter for ISIS in Malaysia, where he served as lecturer-professor at the Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought.

Guerrero said based on what the military had gathered, Ahmad is currently with Furudji Indama, a Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader.

Meanwhile, the military has deployed some 2,500 soldiers to Basilan in response to the call of local officials there for an all-out war against the bandit group.

“And we have some specialized units deployed too,” Armed Forces Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said during a recent visit here.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the military should focus its operation in Barangay Macalang in Al Barka town; Kurellem in Ungkaya Pukan, and Baiwas in Sumisip.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“These three barangays are their (ASG) bases but they maintain some satellite bases too,” Hataman said.

TAGS: ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Mindanao, Philip Goldberg, Terrorism

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.