MANILA, Philippines鈥揟he claims of former President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo听Duterte听confirming that an unidentified number of Filipinos have been recruited to train and fight with terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) should not be dismissed outright, a national security expert said Tuesday.
In an interview over听Radyo听Inquirer 990 AM, Rommel听Banlaoi, director of Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies,听said that Ramos and听Duterte听would not risk tarnishing their reputation if they fabricate false claims.
鈥溾�橮ag听nagsalita听kasi听si听FVR,听dapat听seryosohin听natin听鈥榶an听kasi听hindi听naman听i-ri-risk听ni听FVR 鈥榶ung听kanyang听reputation para magsabi ng maling impormasyon. Sa听tingin听ko听rin, 鈥榩ag听nagsalita听si听Mayor听Duterte,听dapat听seryosohin听at听huwag听isawalang-bahala dahil kilala natin 鈥榶ung mga tao na 鈥榶an na听hindi听nagsasabi听ng听mga听bagay听na听wala听silang听batayan,鈥澨鼴anlaoi听said.
(When FVR speaks, it should be taken seriously because FVR would not risk his reputation to share false information. I also think that when Mayor听Duterte听speaks, it should also be taken seriously and it should not be ignored because these officials will not share information without basis.)
Banlaoi听added that the local rebel group听Kalifa听Islamiyaah, also known as the Black Flag Movement, could be allied with the ISIS.
鈥淪a听pananaliksik听namin,听naniniwala听kami听na听ang听Black Flag Movement听dito听sa听Pilipinas听ay听malakas听ang听kanilang听pananampalataya听sa听ina-advance ng ISIS,鈥� said听Banlaoi.
(Based on our research, we believe that the Black Flag Movement in the country believes strongly in the teachings advanced by ISIS.)
Duterte听confirmed Monday that a number of Davao residents were recruited and have left the country last July to join ISIS.
Ramos last week said that at least 100 Filipinos have been training with the jihadists.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday that the claims of Ramos and听Duterte听are unverified and they have not reported any Filipino rebels leaving the country.
AFP, however, confirmed that the听Kalifa听Islamiyaah听is training recruits in the borders of Lanao and听Maguindanao.
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