(Eagle News) — Malacañang on Thursday said the military was still verifying claims made by the Turkish ambassador on the presence of Turkish terrorists in the country.
“The military is verifying the statement of Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur regarding the presence of..particularly the Fetullah Gulen Movement, in the Philippines,” Palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
Cankorur was quoted by reports as saying that the group, which was responsible for an instigated failed coup in her country, was “active” in the Philippines through a school in Zamboanga and two others in Manila.
The school in Zamboanga, she said, was opened in 1997.
“We will investigate organizations abetting or aiding terrorism and will hold them accountable, especially those that may be working as fronts for terrorist and criminal activities, as alleged by the Ambassador,” Abella said.
The spokesperson noted that the Philippine government was “working closely with all other nations to combat terrorism.”
“This is now a global threat that can be better addressed through a unified effort,” he said.