Gov't not downplaying ISIS threat: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government said today that it is not downplaying the threat of terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

In an interview with a state-run radio station, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III did not need to make public his administration' s efforts in addressing the terrorist threat in the country.

"I think anyone who would go back and review the pronouncements of the president on ISIS would not come to the conclusion that the president is downplaying the situation," she said.

The ISIS Study Group, whose members were supposedly retired US military men, reportedly likened Aquino to US President Barack Obama for downplaying the threat of the Islamic State militants.

"Just because our efforts are not made publicly known, it does not mean that they do not exist. A large part of it is not shared publicly because that's transmitting to the other side what you intend to do," Valte said.

Aside from the ISIS threat, she said, government security forces also continue to address threats by other groups.

On the supposed recruitment by ISIS in southern Philippines, Valte said the Armed Forces of the Philippines continue to engage with local leaders and other stakeholders to fend off any recruitment moves by the terrorist group in southern region.