IN LIGHT of a report about fleeing Islamic State (IS) terrorists allegedly returning to Mindanao, Malacañang assured that the Duterte government is ready to engage in another possible battle with the Jihadist group.
"We assure the public that we are in a better position to deal with terrorists," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told a press conference.
"Hayaan ninyo silang mag-tangka na magkalat ng lagim. Handa naman po tayo para ipatupad ang mga batas ng Pilipinas (Let them be in their attempt to sow fear. We are ready to implement the Philippine laws)," he added.
Roque made the remark after the United States (US)-based The Washington Times reported that there were more IS-affiliated foreign fighters in Southeast Asia, especially from militant groups in the southern Philippines, based on the figures from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Washington Times also noted that an assessment of the US State Department placed the Philippines for the first time among the five nations with the most terrorist attacks.
"The Philippines, along with Afghanistan, India, Iraq, and Pakistan, were the sites of nearly 60 percent of terrorist attacks last year," the report read, citing the US State Department's latest assessment of global terror acts.
Mindanao was first placed under martial law on May 23, 2017, following the siege of Marawi City by the Maute Group. It will remain in effect until the end of 2018. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)