Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — The Department of National Defense (DND) is not monitoring any increased activities of terror cells in Lanao del Sur, DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Wednesday.
But Teodoro said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner has ordered his commanders on the ground to be extra vigilant, especially with the developments in Israel and Palestine.
Marawi City marked its sixth anniversary of liberation from the Maute-Isis group on Tuesday.
“Increased activity of potential terrorist cells that may gather inspiration, not infiltration from what happened, particularly barangay elections are coming,” Teodoro clarified in a forum.
The Defense secretary also urged communities to continue cooperating with the government.
The National Security Council earlier said militant group Hamas tried to operate and ally itself with local extremist groups in 2018 and 2022.
“Sa community, alam na ng mga tao kung sino ang dayo, sino ang hindi at kung ito as suspetyoso o hindi,” Teodoro said.
[Translation: In the communities, people know who are foreigners and who are suspicious.]
“That may serve as a warning because there was an attempt before and there may be a spill off again because naturally as they are driven away from their strongholds, they’ll try to seek safe haven elsewhere and will try to regroup or try to spread the strife particularly in Islamic communities,” he added.
