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| Southeast Asia |
| Another Marawi-type siege may be coming, says Philippines |
| 2018-01-09 |
| [ARABNEWS] Troops should prepare for a possible repeat of the Marawi siege in "another city" in the country, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told them on Monday. Lorenzana admitted that more foreign turbans are reported to have entered Mindanao. In a speech during the Philippine Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM) turnover ceremony here, the defense chief warned the troops that they will again be called upon later on, or "maybe immediately" as there’s still "some work to do in Mindanao. "It is not far-fetched that one of these days they (ISIS-inspired turbans) will again hold another city for quite some time." Lorenzana made the statement after a petition urged the Supreme Court to stop the year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao. The petitioners claimed martial law has no factual and legal basis. But in a news conference after the turnover ceremony, the defense chief expressed readiness to defend the extension of martial law as there is "continuing rebellion" in the southern Philippines. "It started in May and continued until October. It is the belief of the armed forces and the police that there is continuing reorganization of the rebellious forces. They would again conduct a Marawi-type operation some time in the future. I also believe that," Lorenzana said. He added that "the rebellious forces were not all killed in Marawi." Quite a number, according to the defense chief, "were able to extricate themselves, and they (now) are somewhere there in Mindanao. "Some of them are in Central Mindanao, some are in Lanao," Lorenzana said. Based on reports from the military, the police and also from civilians, recruitment is in progress and there are also small groups conducting training. "So we will address those during this martial law extension," Lorenza stated. When asked to confirm a statement by a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official on the arrival of more imported muscle in Mindanao, Lorenzana said: "That is also what we got and we are trying to confirm it. That’s also another reason why it bolsters our argument to extend the martial law." Lorenzana noted that if it is confirmed that more foreign turbans have entered the country, "the more we are going to do it strictly in Mindanao, fighting against them using martial law." Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, earlier told Arab News that despite the liberation of Marawi City in October last year, ISIS-oriented groups in Mindanao have not been completely defeated. "And as far as an intelligence report is concerned, their recruitment is ongoing in Mindanao," he said. "Expect that they will surface once again." The MILF official added that "reports of the arrival of ISIS personalities from the Middle East is very much happening in Mindanao, especially in the island province of Sulu and Basilan ...Basilan is a rugged, jungle-covered island in the southern Philippines. It is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, bandidos, and maybe even orcs. Most people with any sense travel with armed escorts... . |
| Posted by:Fred |