The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday said it is on guard against “copycat” attacks by local Hamas sympathizers following Saturday’s terrorist attack on Israel.
“We are monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects but we have not yet seen anything so far,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on the sidelines of the launching of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in a Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday, Oct. 13.
Meanwhile, National Security Council chief Secretary Eduardo Año called the Hamas attack a “deadly and barbaric terrorist assault” that targeted civilians and used hostages as human shields against a counter-offensive by the Israeli Defense Force.
He said he would push to have Hamas designated as a terrorist organization under Republic Act.
Teodoro said that no country is exempted from the threat of terrorism, hence, it is important for the military to always be on alert.
“Anybody can copy whatever happened in the Middle East. We can call them disruptors or extremists. I mean it always happens. Any country in this part of the world or any part of the world, even in Europe, they are on high alert for the possible effects of this on their security situation,” Teodoro said.
“It’s not only here that things happen. There have been ISIS spin-offs in France, in the UK, wherever. Terrorism is a possibility anywhere,” he said.
Foreign media reported that pro-Palestine groups in Paris launched a protest in their country and were dispersed by their police using tear gas, raising fears of a possible spillover of Hamas-Israel violence in other parts of the world.
In the Philippines, Teodoro urged the public to be vigilant and help the military to stop any attempt for a surprise attack similar to what Hamas did in Israel.
“As much as possible, we are preparing [the troops]. But it also means that the communities should also be vigilant. If they notice something off, they should report it to authorities,” he said.
Teodoro said the DND is ready to repatriate the overseas Filipinos who want to go home due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“We are ready, willing, and able to facilitate repatriation. That’s the duty not only of the AFP but also the OCD [Office of Civil Defense] and actually, the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council],” he said.
On Wednesday, the AFP said that it already has an evacuation plan to help bring home overseas Filipinos affected by the war.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said C-295 and C-130 transport aircraft have been prepared for deployment for the possible evacuation of distressed.
Also on Friday, Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Mohammad said Hamas does not represent Palestinians even as he urged world leaders to reconsider their stance on Israel’s war on the terrorist group.
Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in a Saturday surprise attack. Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes in Hamas-run Gaza for six days, claiming more than 1,400 lives and displacing over 400,000 people in the crowded enclave.
“Hamas is not Palestine. Hamas is an organization trying to fight for the liberation of Palestine. What made Hamas is the absence of real political hope for the Palestinian people,” he said.
“A vast majority of the Palestinian people are very moderate, they are very open, they have signed agreements with Israel — and are still awaiting for Israel to implement those signed agreements,” he told ANC’s “Headstart.”
Israel’s retaliatory attacks targeted not just Hamas, but Palestinians civilians, mosques, schools, and relief operations, the ambassador said.
Mohammad lamented that the world “turned a blind eye” on the assault and that “nobody’s listening” to Palestinians’ plea for help.
“We are merely trying to end the over 75 years occupation of our homeland. We are just trying to establish our independent state and live like any other nation on earth. Our demand is not much,” the ambassador said.
“I appeal to world leaders, through you, please review your decision on Palestine… We do not deserve these killings. Each time, each cycle of killings will beget more violence,” he said. — With AFP