Urgent concern

ON August 19, former president Fidel Ramos revealed in ANC’s Beyond Politics that there have been intelligence reports concerning the training of about 100 Filipino Muslims in Iraq to become jihadists.
“The report has been reaching some of us who re retired people who are knowledgeable about Mindanao is that at least 100 of our young Filipino Muslims have already somehow infiltrated into Iraq to undergo training so they can come back [as] jihadists,” said Ramos.
The former president did not give further details but said that the Abu Sayyaf has been encouraged by the success of the Islamic State  (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report, hardline Moro guerrillas have pledged allegiance to IS.
Clips of both Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen and the Abu Sayyaf rebels pledging support to the Islamic State have been uploaded on YouTube but was turned down by the Philippine Army.
“We had an alliance with the Islamic State and Abu Bakr al-Bagdhadi,” BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama confirmed the AFP report via telephone interview.
Contrary to Ramos’ speculation, Abu Misry denied that their group has sent any fighters from the Philippines to help the IS , nor was it recruiting people to join the IS.
“But if they need our help, why not?” he added.
The Philippine military, however, slammed claims of links between IS, the Abu Sayyaf, and the BIFF.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said existing connections between the militant groups remained “unverified.”
“It can be claimed by anybody who wants to take (advantage) so they can become more notorious,so that they will be feared more since they have links (with IS),” Tutaan said.
“We do not dignify (videos on) YouTube… A lot of things can happen on YouTube… We are just being careful on our pronouncements before the media because we don’t want to cause undue alarm… These (linkages) are unverified,” he added.
Though previously refuted by the Philippine military, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte claimed that some young residents of his city have been recruited to fight for the ISIS terrorist group.
“I am concerned,” Mayor Duterte said. “I feel sad for those who go there. They probably feel it’s alright.”
The mayor admitted that he is alarmed at the reports of BIFF’s allegiance to ISIS.
“I’m a little concerned. I’m wondering what would be the dimensions. It’s  campaign of terror. But I just hope they will leave it that way there,” Duterte said.
Will the Philippine military and national police ignore the “fact” that there is a huge possibility that ISIS is recruiting young men in parts of Mindanao? Is our country one of the countries that is letting the Caliphate rule the world?
There is no time to waste. Every second, many people are being abducted and killed by this terrorist group. Acting fast on this issue might be a small contribution to the world’s peace and order but at least, an effort will be given to counter the possible expansion of the group.
(AJPress)