THE Philippines has become a breeding ground for terrorists because it enjoys too much democratic space, the heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police said Monday.
Armed Forces Chief General Eduardo Año and PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa made the statement to reporters before a joint conference in Quezon City.
“As you know, the country enjoys so much democratic space and that is being exploited by terror groups and criminal groups,” Año said.
Dela Rosa said as much when he said the Philippines had “so much democratic space that sometimes it’s bordering on indiscipline.”
They made their statements even as Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said the government was closely watching any potential linkages between local terrorists and foreign jihadist groups.
“The government and all agencies of the government are closely watching any potential sources of linkages with other terror organizations,” Padilla told reporters.
“We continue to work with other agencies of the government and other countries all over the world to protect our shores and protect others from the things that can be brought about by terror organizations everywhere,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Filipino doctor wanted over a foiled jihadist plot targeting New York’s subway and Times Square previously treated pro-Islamic State group militants in the mountains of Mindanao, the military said Monday.
Russell Salic, 37, had links to the Maute group, which since May had been occupying parts of the Philippines’ most important Islamic city of Marawi in a bid to establish an IS caliphate in Southeast Asia, Philippine authorities said.
“He was among those who were treating wounded members of the Maute group,” military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo told AFP.
Año and Dela Rosa said there was an inadequate security legislation in the Philippines, a country of 100 million people.
Año said the Human Security Act lacked certain provisions, which was why the military was pushing for the Internal Security Act, but did not elaborate.
Dela Rosa raised the proposed national identification card system, which to him would be “very crucial” in tracking all Filipinos.
The bill setting a national ID system is considered a priority measure by both Congress and the executive branch, but the PNP chief said they were facing an “uphill battle.”
The “breeding ground for terrorists” tag came from Salic, a doctor from Marawi City who was allegedly part of a thwarted plot targeting New York’s subway and Times Square.
In an electronic exchange acquired by US security agents, Salic described the terror laws in the Philippines as “not strict” in comparison to other countries.
He also said the Philippines “does not care about IS” like the West, a claim that both Año and Dela Rosa denied.
Salic is still under the custody of Philippine authorities and facing interrogation, according to the security chiefs. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier said they would process the US request for Salic’s extradition. With AFP