AFP looking into alleged Isis threat in Ms. Universe 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday that it is taking seriously a threat, spread through a video, by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to bomb the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines in January next year.
"We are yet to establish the authenticity and, possibly, the source of the video that issued the threat.That notwithstanding, we are taking the threat seriously," said AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo.
The threat was issued in a video calling on ISIS supporters in the Philippines to manufacture bomb for the pageant. It urged "brothers who love martyrdom" to 'target the foreigners whose nations have taken part in the ongoing campaign against ISIS.
The video also showed how to make a suicide belt and how to manufacture explosives.
"As in any threats, whether verified or not, it behooves the AFP--in coordination with the PNP and other counterpart agencies--to take appropriate measures to counter the threats," said Arevalo.
Arevalo said AFP chief General Ricardo Visaya is nevertheless calling on the public "to remain calm."
"Threats that are intended to cause panic and chaos are the ends of terrorist groups like ISIS," said Arevalo.
"We reiterate that there is no ISIS in the Philippines. What we have are groups claiming affiliations with ISIS in their bid to draw funds. It is not farfetched for ISIS to claim to have cells in the Philippines to show global membership," said Arevalo.
"General Visaya nonetheless calls on our people to be vigilant, not only because of the threat, but moreso because security is a concern for everybody not only of the security forces. As the old adage goes 'It's better to err at the side of caution'," added Arevalo. (VR/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/08/12/afp-looking-alleged-isis-threat-ms-universe-2016-490987
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