Terrorists plan to attack another city, says Palace official

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Sunday a terrorist group connected with the Maute terror group and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is planning to stage an attack in one of the cities in the country.

“Yung grupo ng mga tinatawag natin mga terorista na patuloy pa rin, double time yung kanilang pagre- recruit para dumami pa yung mga kapatid nating Muslim na sumama sa Daulah Islamiyah (Groups we call terrorists are recruiting fast so that there will be more joining the Daulah Islamiyah),” he said.

“So ang balita ay lumakas ang kanilang pagre- recruit sa Mindanao. Ang problema nito, may mga intelligence report na nagpaplano silang umatake sa isa pang siyudad (So the news is that they’re recruiting strongly in Mindanao. The problem is that they have plans to attack another city),” he added. Andanar failed to name the city. Aside from Daulah Islamiyah, Andanar said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the ASG have also posed threats to the people in Mindanao.

Andanar said the cancellation of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army could also bring more violence.

The intelligence reports they have received will be enough to justify the extension of martial law in Mindanao, expiring this Dec. 31, Andanar said.

The President has yet to decide if he will issue another proclamation extending martial law, imposed last May 23 to quell members of the Maute group that attacked Marawi. /