Is there ISIS Presence in the Philippines? Experts Disagree

The Philippine Star

15 April 2016

ISIS on Wednesday has claimed responsibility for the Basilan attack, signaling its presence in the country.

But whether or not the terror group has indeed established existence in the country depends on who you ask.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that there is no formal ISIS organization in the Philippines during a joint press briefing with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Thursday.

“The group in Basilan is trying to organize and be affiliated with ISIS. But so far our information says that there is no formal ISIS organization here in the Philippines,” Gazmin said.

… “ISIS always exaggerates their claims because ISIS wants to galvanize potential recruits to show that it’s winning,” Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said in an interview over ANC.

“Certainly the statement has a strong flavor of ISIS accent and propaganda.”

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