24 June 2017

News Story: ‘Marawi siege a magnet for foreign fighters’

By Pia Lee-Brago

MANILA, Philippines - With the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, the Philippines might become a “magnet” for Islamic State (IS) militants fleeing allied offensives in Mosul in Iraq, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said yesterday.

He said there are indications foreign fighters are attempting to come to the country to help like-minded militants, particularly those battling government troops in Marawi City.

“Yes, that’s what we’re carefully watching because efforts of the allied forces are turning out well, and they are forecasting an IS defeat in six months,” Año said.

“So we expect those displaced to go to Asia and because of the Marawi crisis, the Philippines might serve as a magnet. And we really have to be on guard,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting on security among officials of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

Read the full story at PhilStar