Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. 蜜桃工作室 file photo.
MANILA, Philippines鈥擬alaca帽ang on Friday said it would take a closer look at the data mentioned in the recent Global Terrorism Index that ranked the Philippines ninth among countries with the most number of terror incidents.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to see what those incidents are and compare it with the data that our law enforcement agencies have,鈥� deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press conference.
鈥淭here are some incidents that we continue to register. That鈥檚 why we also want to take a look at the individual incidents (in the terror index) such as who are involved, the loss of human life and property damage,鈥� Valte added.
The Institute for Economics and Peace鈥檚 Global Terrorism Index for 2013 ranked the Philippines ninth out of 162 countries with the worst number of deaths and injuries borne out of terrorist attacks.
The report said the 499 incidents in the country in 2013 resulted in 292 recorded deaths and 444 injuries.
The statistics were twice as high as those recorded in 2012, the report said.
Most of the terrorist attacks were carried out by the New People鈥檚 Army (NPA), followed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
鈥淐ertainly, I think everyone is unified in the goal that we want to lessen these incidents [of terrorism]鈥� for the safety of our people,鈥� Valte said.
The government and the MILF recently inked a peace agreement that aims to end the four-decade strife in Mindanao.
Valte said that military operations against the NPA and the ASG鈥攖he primary security threats to the country鈥攚ere going on.
Asked by a reporter if she was not convinced that the man shown in the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) video looks like a Filipino, Valte replied:
鈥淎 lot of us in Asia share the same characteristics and I would not be so bold as to say that he is a Filipino.鈥�
Valte said government 鈥渃ontinues to vet pieces of information like this.鈥�
鈥淪o far, the military has turned up information that is negative to this effect, but again, efforts will continue, and as mentioned by our AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), their engagements will continue with the local officials just鈥� to avert any recruitment activities,鈥� she said.