FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija: Troops should prepare for a possible repeat of the Marawi siege in 鈥渁nother city鈥� in the country, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told them on Monday.
Lorenzana admitted that more foreign terrorists 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 鈥渕aybe immediately鈥� as there鈥檚 still 鈥渟ome work to do in Mindanao.
鈥淚t is not far-fetched that one of these days they (Daesh-inspired militants) will again hold another city for quite some time.鈥�
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 鈥渃ontinuing rebellion鈥� in the southern Philippines.
鈥淚t 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,鈥� Lorenzana said.
He added that 鈥渢he rebellious forces were not all killed in Marawi.鈥� Quite a number, according to the defense chief, 鈥渨ere able to extricate themselves, and they (now) are somewhere there in Mindanao.
鈥淪ome of them are in Central Mindanao, some are in Lanao,鈥� 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.
鈥淪o we will address those during this martial law extension,鈥� Lorenza stated.
When asked to confirm a statement by a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official on the arrival of more foreign fighters in Mindanao, Lorenzana said: 鈥淭hat is also what we got and we are trying to confirm it. That鈥檚 also another reason why it bolsters our argument to extend the martial law.鈥�
Lorenzana noted that if it is confirmed that more foreign terrorists have entered the country, 鈥渢he more we are going to do it strictly in Mindanao, fighting against them using martial law.鈥�
Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, earlier told Arab News that despite the liberation of Marawi City in October last year, Daesh-oriented groups in Mindanao have not been completely defeated.
鈥淎nd as far as an intelligence report is concerned, their recruitment is ongoing in Mindanao,鈥� he said. 鈥淓xpect that they will surface once again.鈥�
The MILF official added that 鈥渞eports of the arrival of Daesh personalities from the Middle East is very much happening in Mindanao, especially in the island province of Sulu and Basilan.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have the actual count but they are increasing as per information coming from the ground,鈥� Iqbal said, noting that because of what happened to them in Iraq and in Syria where they were practically defeated, remnants of Daesh are now finding ways to survive.
鈥淎nd they鈥檙e finding Mindanao as one of the alternative places where they can survive because they have a natural ally here in the Abu Sayyaf and Daesh-oriented groups in Mindanao. They will find these places as the most natural ones to go.鈥�
Meanwhile, when asked by Arab News if high-value targets had been identified among the foreign terrorists who may already be in Mindanao, Lorenzana said 鈥渘one so far.鈥� He added, though, that for now the military is going after the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
鈥淲e are actually trying to contain the BIFF because they are the ones giving us problems now. They are harassing civilians; they are also fighting our troops. So our attention is now focused on them.鈥�