The inclusion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its local affiliate Maute Group in the list of terrorist organizations by the United States will make it harder for the two groups to carry out their terror activities in the country, especially in Mindanao, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Wednesday.
“The inclusion of the Maute Group and ISIS-Philippines in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations is an affirmation of what Philippine authorities already know—that the Maute Group and the Dawlah-Islamiya are terrorist groups that need to be dealt with decisively using the full force of the law,” DND Spokesman Arsenio R. Andolong said.
“As such, they will be denied access to the US financial system and will face sanctions as may be deemed appropriate, making it more difficult for them to conduct their activities in the Philippines and abroad,” he added.
The US State Department has included the ISIS-Philippines and Maute Group among the seven Islamic State groups that it tagged as terrorist organization, thus, enlisting international collaboration in dealing with the groups. The US list confirmed the existence of ISIS members in the Philippines, other than their local counterparts who are members of the Maute Group.
Both groups carried out the five-monthlong siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur that ravaged the Moro’s center of Islamic faith in the country.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday said that the red-alert status imposed in Metro Manila since the bombing in Davao City remains still due to terrorism threats.
“We did not scale it down after the bombing in Davao because, of course, we always recognize that the threat of terrorism is always there,” Albayalde said.
“The threat of terrorism will no longer disappear. So what we take care of is Metro Manila, because this is the seat of the government. Anything [that] happens here will become controversial,” he stated.
Albayalde admitted that Metro Manila is always considered as a possible safe haven by terrorists because of the presence of “Muslim enclaves” in the capital which they usually used as lairs or hideouts in order “to cover up for themselves.”
“But the support and cooperation that we are getting from the leaders of our brother Muslims, especially in Quezon City, Maharlika and Quiapo area are also good,” he said.
Albayalde added the red-alert status in Metro Manila was not meant to scare the public, but a reminder for policemen in the capital to be always on their toes.
“We could not afford to relax here, it is not to scare the public, but it is for us to be always ready,” he said.