Aquino: PH monitoring ISIS watch lists

Natashya Gutierrez

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Aquino: PH monitoring ISIS watch lists
President Benigno Aquino III says the government is coordinating with Interpol and ASEAN

MANILA, Philippines – Just 3 days before the visit of Pope Francis, President Benigno Aquino III said the government has its eyes on terrorist watch lists.

Aquino acknowledged the general threat posed by a large crowd to the Pope’s safety but gave assurances nothing is serious at this point. 

The President also said the Philippines is coordinating with “various mechanisms and organizations that we belong to” such as Interpol and ASEAN, in monitoring watch lists of people who have ties with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

“We are maximizing all of these efforts and we’re touching base with so many allies to try and see, to identify any threat whatsoever coming from any direction,” he said on Monday, January 12.

“Plus we have our own ongoing operations to deal with our own domestic terrorist threats.”

Asked whether the terrorist attacks in France prompted the government to increase security, the President said he was deploying more security than he uses as head of state.

“The number is between 25 to 50,000 of our security forces. 50,000 represent 20% of all our soldiers and police… And I don’t think I’ve ever utilized that particular number, not even as a plan.”

The President also said the government is studying all potential and possible scenarios and making a systemic plan to decrease the danger.

“We are doing everything we possibly can,” he said.

Up to 6 million are expected to come to Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, January 18 where the Pope is scheduled to hold mass. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Face, Happy, Head

author

Natashya Gutierrez

Natashya is President of Rappler. Among the pioneers of Rappler, she is an award-winning multimedia journalist and was also former editor-in-chief of Vice News Asia-Pacific. Gutierrez was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for 2023.