(Eagle News) — Malacanang is verifying reports that 89 foreign terrorists have entered the country.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that foreign terrorists may have entered the backdoor where the point of entry is Mindanao via Indonesia or Malaysia.
“This is the purpose why we are making a collective effort against terrorism and violent extremism through a trilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.
The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have recently beefed up its trilateral cooperation to fight terrorism and violent extremism in Southeast Asia.
Based on the intelligence information obtained by the Japan-based Kyodo News, there are 28 Indonesians, 26 Pakistanis, 21 Malaysians, four Arabs, three Bangladeshis, one Indian-Singaporean, and one Singaporean were among the purported foreign armed men.
It said that five others are of yet-to-be-determined nationalities.
These figures were allegedly cited by the Philippine government during the trilateral talks on security Thursday, June 22, in Manila with the foreign ministers and security officials of Malaysia and Indonesia.
“We have agreed to work together to jointly develop and implement counter-terrorism measures and strategies to prevent future terrorists attacks in the region,” he added.
The trilateral talks also centered on intelligence sharing among the three nations.
As fighting in Marawi City entered its second month, authorities reported 289 terrorists killed as well as 69 government troops and 26 civilians.
(Eagle News Service)
