Duterte confirms ISIS recruited Filipino rebels

By: Aries Joseph Hegina - 10 years ago

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO

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

In a television report,听Duterte听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鈥檚听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听Duterte鈥檚听claims are unverified.

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 covered any valid intel or any valid information,鈥� Lieutenant General Eduardo听A帽o, 10th Infantry Division (ID) Commander, said. 鈥淲e have not reported any of the local jihadists leaving the country.鈥�

On Friday, the听Bangsamoro听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听emanated from the Al Qaeda in Iraq.