THE crisis in Marawi City could attract members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) to enter the Philippines, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Eduardo Año said Thursday.
The military chief told reporters that the foreign terrorists, who would be displaced in Mosul, Iraq, due to continued bombardment by the allied forces, could run in Asia.
"Maganda ang effort ng allied forces doon (Mosul). In fact, they are forecasting na in six months, matatalo nila ang ISIS dun. They expect na 'yung madi-displace pupunta ng Asia and because of the Marawi crisis, parang magnet itong Pilipinas," he said.
Año said the military is monitoring this to ensure that the foreign fighters could not enter the territory.
The Isis-inspired Maute group has been fighting the military in Marawi, which the terrorists have been occupying since May 23.
According to Año, about 40 foreign terrorists, including those who have been killed already, are in Mindanao. About 20 of them are Indonesians.
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Mindanao under martial law due to the Maute attack in Marawi. (SDR/VoxPop Philippines)