DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday discouraged the netizens from following social media accounts that may have been managed by terrorist groups for their propaganda.
"Let us all show our strong rejection of the terrorists and their sympathizers' futile attempts to sway the hearts and minds of our people by ignoring and reporting terrorist-linked and suspicious social media accounts to the proper authorities," he said.
"We must also be very discerning in sharing any information that may cause undue panic that would further the enemy's agenda," he added.
Lorenzana asked for the participation of the public for the government to defeat the local terrorist groups such as the Maute who are spreading wrong ideology and version of Islam.
"As government security forces continue to defeat and retake positions from ISIS-linked local terrorists, we see the need, now more than ever, for the Filipino people to unite against these forces of evil," he said.
On May 23, government troops launched military operations in Marawi City after receiving information on the alleged presence of the Maute terror group’s top leader, Isnilon Hapilon, in the area that resulted in an encounter with the bandits.
The group then tried to take control of the city and occupied several key points there, held civilian hostages and even burned several establishments. (SunStar Philippines)