Philippines: IS enhances links with Muslim militants
Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has said that the country received intelligence that shows closer links between domestic militants and the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) group.
Philippines police looks for escaping prisoners in Kidapawan town. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine DefenceSecretary Delfin Lorenzana has said that the country received intelligence thatshows closer links between domestic militants and the self-claimed IslamicState (IS) group.
According to the minister, intelligence from allies showed Isnilon Hapilon, aleader of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, is trying to spread into new areas ofthe Philippines upon the instruction of IS.
Isnilon Hapilon left his traditional area of operation on Basilan island andwent to Lanao del Sur to survey a new area under IS instruction.
The army had until recently denied the existence of links between IS and Muslimmilitants in the Philippines and said Abu Sayyaf was had only pledgedallegiance to the network to boost its profile. AbuSayyaf, which operates in two southern islands, has kidnapped dozens offoreigners over recent years and beheaded several of them, including twoCanadians, in recent years.
The United States has a bounty of five million USD on the head of Hapilon forleading the 2001 kidnapping of 20 people, including three Americans, on aresort island. He has been identified as Abu Sayyaf's commander on Basilan.
Lanao del Sur, a province on the main southern island of Mindanao, to thenortheast of the much smaller Basilan island, is also a stronghold of a theMaute rebel group, which has pledged allegiance to IS. Several of its membershave been arrested for a bombing last year in which 14 people were killed.-VNA
Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines freed two Filipinos held captive for nearly three months, the country’s military said on January 19, the second release in within a week by the Islamic State-linked group.
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have agreed to establish a trilateral cooperation to fight activities and ideas of the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) in the region, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi on January 26.
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Philippines police looks for escaping prisoners in Kidapawan town. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
