More troops deployed to 'Zambasulta' to monitor ISIS recruitment

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed a brigade in key areas in Mindanao in a bid to intensify monitoring and intelligence efforts against possible recruitment by secessionist groups to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said the troops are deployed in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi also known as the Zambasulta area.

“ISIS is in the Middle East, so we are just monitoring what is going on there, especially in Iraq and Syria,”  Catapang said when interviewed after the budget hearings for the defense department at the Senate on Friday.

“There is verified report or confirmed report about the recruitment but we are taking it seriously,” the AFP chief said.

“We added additional one brigade in Mindanao. Nagdagdag kami ng tropa sa Mindanao. They will be scattered in what we call, Zambasulta or Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulo, Tawi-tawi,” he explained.

According to Catapang, the deployment of the additional troops will boost further the monitoring and intelligence operations in the area.

“…also to stabilize the situation in Zamboanga City, we want the people to feel secured especially after the one year anniversary of the Zambo incident,” he said, referring to the Zamboanga siege by the group of Nur Misuari last year.

As this developed, Catapang said the AFP has not let up monitoring efforts against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) which have threatened to behead one of its two German hostages.

“We are continuously monitoring that threat and we hope that the Abu Sayyaf will not do that because it will be contrary to what they are fighting for because these are innocent civilians and these are not combatants,” he said.