US, ASEAN to discuss IS threat as Duterte rallies Senate support

SECURITY THREATS, particularly the creeping Islamic State (IS) presence in the region, will be among the main issues that will be discussed by top-level officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with US State Secretary Rex. T. Tillerson when he visits Manila this week for a series of meetings.

Senior officials of the 10-nation bloc are gathering for the ASEAN Regional Forum from Aug. 2-8, which will have various meetings and events.

Mr. Tillerson will be participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit Ministerial, the US-ASEAN Ministerial, and the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial, according to a statement released by the US Embassy in Manila yesterday.

In a press conference at the White House on Tuesday (Washington time), Mr. Tillerson said winning the war against IS terrorists entails recognition that it is a global concern.

“I think our next steps on the global war to defeat ISIS (Islamic State of Syria and Iraq) are to recognize ISIS is a global issue,” Mr. Tillerson said.

“We already see elements of ISIS in the Philippines, as you’re aware, gaining a foothold. Some of these fighters have gone to the Philippines from Syria and Iraq. We are in conversations with the Philippine Government, with Indonesia, with Malaysia, with Singapore, with Australia, as partners to recognize this threat, try to get ahead of this threat, and help them with training,” he added.

The Philippines is this year’s chair of the ASEAN, which is celebrating its 50^th founding anniversary.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, for his part, said this information on the IS terror threat is not new, but there is a need to be continuously and constantly vigilant.

“Terror threats in all of Mindanao and even outside Mindanao has been with us for a long time. In fact we had terror acts committed here in Manila before. This is not new,” Mr. Lorenzana said via text message to reporters.

“Filipino terrorists can travel all over the country unimpeded hence they could create mayhem anywhere. That is why we should all be vigilant. The safety of a community is mainly the concern of all residents, not only the police or military,” he added.

SENATE SUPPORT
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, meanwhile, met late Tuesday with some members of Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, to discuss various issues, foremost of which is the IS threat in the country’s south.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Senator Vicente C. Sotto III, who was among those at the three-hour meeting in Malacañang, said the President gave an update on the Marawi City siege and sought support for the deployment of more troops.

“He needs an additional 20,000 personnel for the Armed Forces and an additional 10,000 for the Philippine National Police so he wants the support of the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Mr. Sotto said.

The recruitment of additional personnel entails budgetary execution, which would be subject to Congressional approval.

Others at the meeting were Senate President Senator Aquilino L. Pimetel III, Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Francis G. Escudero, Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Gringo B. Honasan II, Panfilo M. Lacson, and Richard J. Gordon, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, and House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas.

Mr. Drilon said based on Mr. Duterte’s report, “there is a real threat of (IS) intensification.”

He added that the President is “looking at a closer regional cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Indonesia.”

Mr. Lacson, for his part, confirmed that “additional SAF (Special Action Force) battalions and additional AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) troops especially trained for urban warfare” is needed.

Mr. Lacson, a former police general, added, “When it’s the commander-in-chief who says na meron (that there are) new threats, you better believe him because ang sources (of) intelligence information niya marami (are numerous).”

Also discussed during the meeting were the Free Education Act, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Bills, and the ongoing investigation on the Bureau of Customs. — Jil Danielle M. Caro and Mario M. Banzon