Sen. Marcos Calls For Intensified Efforts vs. Terrorist Plot To Create ISIS Faction in Southeast Asia

 Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. last week urged military and police intelligence officials to step up their efforts to neutralize attempts to form an official faction of the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) in Southeast Asia by Malaysian militants hiding in Southern Philippines.

 Marcos aired the call in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris and reports of the Strait Times saying militants aim to bring together to the fold of ISIS terror groups in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines including the Jemaah Islamiah and the Abu Sayyaf.

 “We must not allow this to happen; we must keep our guards up. Our authorities should intensify their intelligence gathering efforts to neutralize the activities of these international terrorists,” Marcos said.

Marcos also said our intelligence agencies should enhance their system of cooperation and exchange of information with their counterparts in the region to strengthen the network of defense against terrorist plots.

Likewise, Marcos appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities by providing information on any suspicious activities that

could lead to the capture of the terrorists and avert any sinister plot they are planning to carry on.

He noted that according to intelligence experts, most of the leads that resulted to the capture of terrorists or in preventing terrorist attacks were provided by concerned citizens.

“Without the cooperation of everyone it would be difficult for our authorities to stop terror plots. Who knows, the lives you save may be your own child, wife or relative?” Marcos said.

The report tagged former Universiti Malaya lecturer Dr. Mahmud Ahmad as leading the effort to form a regional ISIS faction in Southeast Asia, assisted by his cohorts Mohd Najib Husen and Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee. /MP