Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 22) — The Southeast Asian region, including the Philippines, does not seem to be a target of ISIS remnants following their defeat in Syria, according to the US Department of State.
“We know that ISIS core, the remnants of ISIS in Syria, have been encouraging their fighters to leave and fight again, to take the fight to other regions,” Nathan Sales, Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State said in a teleconference with reporters Friday.
“So far, we have seen a few indications of an interest in traveling to Southeast Asia, but truth be told, it’s not one of the regions that ISIS fighters seem to be heading to in droves,” Sales added.
He said the US and the Philippines as security allies should now make sure members of the international terrorist network would not be able to enter the country if they ever wish to.
Sales is in the country to meet with Philippine officials on counter-terrorism efforts. He said they’re working closely to improve border security, cut off terrorist financing, and boost the capability of law enforcement officers and prosecutors in handling terror cases.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said the country is not letting its guard down following the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was reportedly killed by US forces in Syria in October.
Authorities are on alert for any possible retaliatory attack from ISIS-linked groups and sympathizers in the country.
In November, three suspected suicide bombers were killed in an encounter with government troops in Indanan town, Sulu. A DNA test later showed that one of them, a foreign national, “had links” to the ISIS and had traveled to Mindanao with the help of ISIS connections in Southeast Asia, authorities said.
The military believes the terrorists were planning another suicide bombing in Jolo town to retaliate Baghdadi’s killing.
Authorities have said foreign terrorists are being harbored by the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu and other conflict areas in Mindanao.
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