No terror group in PH heeding jihad call over Israel-Hamas war — Brawner

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief
(File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — There are no indications that “terrorist groups” in the country are heeding the call for “jihad” over Israel-Hamas war, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

According to a Reuters report, former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians, as he tell scholars who teach jihad that “this is a moment for the application (of theories).”

“We were quite concerned with the call of Hamas for an international jihad,” Brawner said in a media briefing on Thursday.

“This is concerning for us because of our experiences in terrorism, but as we monitor the situation in the country, we are happy to note that so far, there are no indications of any terrorist groups heeding the call for Jihad.

“Our monitoring has been increased in terms of the tempo. We have not monitored any sympathetic groups,” Brawner further said.

READ: PH anti-terror council to push for designation of Hamas as terrorist group

Brawner also said he alerted all AFP commanders nationwide to be vigilant “and be on the lookout for any possible spillovers.”

Even before the Israel-Hamas broke out, the Philippine National Police in 2022 reported that the Islamic militant purportedly planned to “establish a foothold” in the country.

However, a source in the Hamas movement had stressed the group’s “declared policy of limiting its conflict with the Israeli occupation within the occupied Palestinian territories, and not to transfer it to any Arab or foreign lands”, according to Hamas-affiliated Shehab news agency.

READ: Hamas denies plot vs Israelis in PH

The Philippines’ anti-terrorism council will push for the designation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

JPV