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Mayor: Group linked to Daesh active in Cotabato City
[Inquirer] Armed men linked to Daesh have been recruiting Cotabato City youths to undergo training on bomb-making, Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. has confirmed despite military and police denials. He said, "I was told about this in the past and that information was confirmed with the death of armed men in Palimbang, three of whom were from Cotabato City."He was referring to the November 27 clash in the town in Sultan Kudarat province between Philippine troops and militants reportedly belonging to the Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines. The military had earlier reported recovering Daesj flags and firearms from the battleground. Guiani said he is alarmed and "deeply disturbed" by the information he received that at least 30 young residents had been recruited by the Daesjinspired Ansar al-Khalifah Philippines. They were promised food and pocket money while training for bomb-making in the hinterlands of Palimbang. Guiani said the group "targets minors, out-of-school youths and teenagers who are fond of reading the Koran." Some of them had told their parents that they would study Islamic theology in General Santos City and Sultan Kudarat, he said. Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan told reporters over the weekend that authorities had yet to find solid proof that Daesh had gained a foothold in his area of jurisdiction, which includes Sultan Kudarat. The recovery of Daesh flags at the site of the Palimbang clash wasn't enough for the military to draw a conclusion, Pangilinan said. The militants might have just idolized Daesh so much that they decided to use their flag, he added. Using the flag could only mean that Ansar al-Khalifah Philippines wanted to draw national and global attention, he said. Posted by: ryuge 2015-12-03 |
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