The Philippines has so far not monitored any presence of ISIS member
in the country, a senior government official said here today.
However, "Perhaps there are sympathizers" of the Muslim militants
here, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a local
radio program.
The Philippine government has been coordinating with the Muslim
groups in the country to thwart threats posed by the Islamic State
(ISIS), she added.
Valte admitted that the government has been taking seriously the threats brought by this terrorist group.
"We do not take it lightly. We don't want to have additional problem
here in our country," she said in an interview at a state- run radio
station.
She said that the Muslim brothers, including the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), have been helping the government in ensuring
that no member of this terror group could enter the Philippines.
The MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, forged in March this year a peace deal with the Philippine government.
Members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a break away group of the MILF, have
expressed support to ISIS.
