AFP won't allow mercenary group to operate in Phl

The military is closely monitoring reports that a group of American mercenaries are in the country to fight foreign jihadists.

“The AFP leadership is highly confident of our soldiers, especially those who belong to the special units. They have developed the expertise in counter-terrorism and are equally capable to perform the mission against any threats or terrorist groups,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said.

Kakilala stressed it is illegal for any mercenary group to operate in the country.

Kakilala was reacting to reports published by US-based RT News that a group of US civilian volunteers, led by a certain Suleiman Yousef, are heading to the Philippines to fight Islamic State (IS) affiliated fighters.

The AFP has confirmed the presence of at least six foreign jihadists with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.

Both the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF recently declared their allegiance to the IS.

Yousef said they were paid overhead and when asked about their destination in an RT interview, he said, “the Philippines may not be in the headlines but the people there still had problem with IS-affiliated fighters.”

He stated that there’s always a bigger and badder person and they’re going to be that bigger and badder person.

“We need to do what we can with what we know, and do it for greater good,” said Yousef, a professional martial arts expert and firearms instructor who once reportedly trained members of the outfit Blackwater.

Blackwater used to have an operation in the Philippines, recruiting and training local fighters for deployment in the war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They’re hurting kids, they’re hurting innocent people. And they’re saying it’s in the name of Islam. It doesn’t work that way,” said Yousef, who declined to reveal their principal.

AFP Public Information Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the military would consider the presence of any mercenary group operating in the country as an illegal armed group.

“That is against Philippine laws. They will become another illegal armed group if they will do that,” Cabunoc warned.

He also assured the public that has military has the capability of spotting foreign terrorists mingling in far-flung communities, making them targets of the AFP’s anti-terrorism and law enforcement operations.

“With our own people in communities, we can easily identify the foreign terrorists with our law enforcers, we can always apply the full force of the law against lawless and terrorist elements,” Cabunoc said.