Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — To meet the “coming dangers ahead”, President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing to beef up his government troops.
“We are facing so many fronts. I need more soldiers. I would need about an additional of 7 to 10 (thousand) SAF troopers kasi palaki nang palaki ang problema [since the problem is getting bigger and bigger],” Duterte said in a speech before newly-promoted Philippine National Police officers Thursday.
The President said the threat of terrorism in the Southeast Asian region due to the presence of terrorist leaders from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
“Apparently with the migration of a lot of ISIS leaders [to] Southeast Asia, we will have terrorism,” he said.
Days before, the President expressed concern about possible attacks in the Philippines and hoped the country will be spared.
He urged PNP chief Oscar Albayalde to begin the recruitment process.
“Maybe General Albayalde can at least start on this project,” Duterte said. “Talagang gasgasin niyo husto ‘yung sundalo [You must work the soldiers hard] para we can meet the coming dangers ahead.”
Foreign terrorists were reportedly part of the Sulu faction of local terror group Abu Sayyaf. This subgroup is led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the supposed ISIS leader in the Philippines who was linked to the bombings in Jolo, Sulu, in January.
