PH must join nations fighting ISIL – solon

Asenior administration congressman yesterday called on government to join the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the wake of the threat by the extremist group that it will launch terror attacks similar to the recent ISIL operations in Paris.

Rep. Win Gatchalian (NPC, Valenzuela City) said Philippines should be prepared in supporting the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL as he noted that the threat against Asian nations could be real.

Gatchalian, a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, backed an appeal in the Senate for the increase of the 2016 budget for the Department of National Defense to prepare the country against ISIL terror operations.

“Our government must consider being part of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. We live in a very interconnected world and thet terror attacks happening in one part of the globe may happen in our region, especially that we have a terror group in our own backyard that already swore allegiance to ISIS,” said Gatchalian.

He added: “The problem becomes bigger if the Abu Sayyaf joins forces with other militant groups to form an ISIS province in Southeast Asia,”

The lawmaker made the calls following a report by Reuters quoting Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Malaysia’s deputy home minister, as saying it is possible that terror attacks similar to those done in Paris can be launched by fighters coming back from Syria in Southeast Asia.

“Our government must consider being part of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. We live in a very interconnected world and the terror attacks happening in one part of the globe may happen in our region, especially that we have a terror group in our own backyard that already swore allegiance to ISIS. The problem becomes bigger if the Abu Sayyaf joins forces with other militant groups to form an ISIS province in Southeast Asia,” said Gatchalian.

The Philippines is not explicitly included in the list of countries that have joined the said coalition, but in a resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council on Nov. 20 following the attacks by ISIS in Paris that killed 130 people, all able states were called upon to “redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh,” described as “a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security.

Gatchalian pointed out that given the current situation, the DND’s budget should be augmented since is one of the crucial institutions concerned with protecting the country from such threats. “Now, we not only have to face threats to our sovereignty from China but also threats by Islamist extremists.”

“Given the global threat by ISIS, I ask the Department of Budget and Management to reconsider Senator Legarda’s original proposed budget of P202.3 billion for DND which was cut to P116.3 billion. We must act now and be proactive in eliminating terror threats before it’s too late,” the former Valenzuela City mayor stated.

He recalled that there have been reports of two alleged fighters who died in Syria who were described as Abu Sayyaf members, while another dead fighter was described by a military source as coming from the Philippines.

Gatchalian said the government should keep a tight watch on Abu Sayyaf following reports that ISIS and the said local terror group have dispatched suicide bombers to Malaysia.