All ports on heightened alert against foreign terrorists

The Bureau of Immigration has placed officers in all ports of entry on heightened alert to prevent the entry of terrorists from Turkey.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the directive following disclosure by the Turkish ambassador to the Philippines Esra Cankour

that members of the terror group Fetullah Gullen based in the capital city of Ankara have already established a foothold in the Philippines.

The Islamist transnational religious and social group was tagged as having led the failed attempt to topple the government of Turkish President Recep Erdogan last year.

An immigration official who declined to be named said the bureau maintains a list of foreigners with derogatory record and who are either in the bureau’s blacklist or watch list.

Cankour claimed that Turkish extremists in the country operate schools and do civic and social works.

The BI had earlier noted that several foreign nationals who entered the Philippines as tourists had identified Mindanao as their common destination, bolstering suspicion that suspected Islamic State-inspired Maute/Abu Sayyaf sympathizers are coming to the country to support the rebel groups now fighting military and police forces in Marawi City.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella assured the government will look into the claim of the Turkish envoy.

He said government will investigate foreign organizations abetting or aiding terrorists and will hold them accountable, especially those who may be working as fronts for terrorists and criminal activities.

Cankour said the group is “active” in the country, using their organizations as front to do education and charity works.

“We consider Fetullah Gulen as a terrorist organization and any organization or persons linked or affiliated with that group are like sleeping cells,” Cankour said.

However, one of the leaders of the movement, Cihangir Arslan denied the ambassador’s accusations.