Skip to main content

DFA welcomes Maute group’s inclusion on US list of foreign terror groups

DFA Undersecretary for Strategic Communication and Research Ernesto Abella tells reporters on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, that the Philippines will question the undersea features in Benham Rise submitted by China to the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names of the International Hydrographic Organization and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Danny Pata © Danny Pata DFA Undersecretary for Strategic Communication and Research Ernesto Abella tells reporters on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, that the Philippines will question the undersea features in Benham Rise submitted by China to the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names of the International Hydrographic Organization and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Danny Pata

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the US government’s move to include ISIS-inspired Maute Group and ISIS Philippines on its watch list of foreign terrorist organizations.

The Maute Group is one of the groups responsible for the five-month siege that laid to waste Marawi City in the latter half og 2017.

“Terrorism is a global and regional challenge, and cooperation with key allies is critical in averting terrorist operations,” DFA Undersecretary for Strategic Communication and Research Ernesto Abella said at a news conference.

“The Philippines welcomes the US designation of ISIS Philippines and the Maute group as foreign terrorist organizations, and specially designated as global terrorists,” he added.

The Philippine military successfully eradicated and liberated Marawi from the ISIS-linked groups, who staged attacks on the city last May 23.

Nearly 1,000 people, including many militants, were killed in months of fighting, while thousands have been displaced from the city.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao to address the militant takeover in the predominantly Muslim city.

US special forces have assisted the Armed Forces of the Philippines end the siege by providing technical assistance and enemy surveillance to Filipino troops battling the militants in Marawi.

“While we have concluded a successful campaign in Marawi against the Maute group, countering terrorism continues to be a priority of this administration. We are profoundly committed to preventing ISIS from gaining foothold in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, and we should continue working together on this objective,” Abella said. —NB, GMA News

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Tech 2017: Biggest fails, scandals and embarrassments

© Provided by IBT US This year brought many tech innovations and products, like the iPhone X, virtual reality headsets and augmented reality on apps. However, the tech industry also saw failures this year. Like all businesses, not all products or ideas succeed. The tech industry saw some of its gadgets fail to take off. Besides product failures, the sector was also plagued by scandals and congressional testimonies. Here are the tech industry’s 2017’s top product flops and scandals: Amazon Key In late October, Amazon announced a new delivery method for Prime members which allows drivers to set packages inside customers’ home . The delivery system works with the Amazon Key In-Home Kit that is set up for $249.99. With the kit, users can select the “in home” option on the app and get their items delivered inside their homes. Prime members can receive alerts and can see the delivery happen in real-time through the app. While the service was pitched to people who are too busy to s...
Read more

R. Tiglao Exposed LTO Records Showing Aquino Never Bought or Sold a Porsche

Veteran columnist Rigoberto Tiglao exposed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) records of former President Benigno Aquino III showing that he never bought or sold an expensive Porsche car. The LTO records proved that the former President did not sold his Porsche 911 Carrera car which he claimed he bought for P5 million. The controversial Porsche car of the former President made headlines just months into his presidency but he explained that he bought the luxury car with the proceeds he got when he sold his BMW. Because of the furor from such display of opulence, Pres. Aquino claimed to have sold it six months later for exactly the same price. According to Tiglao during that time he asked through his column the LTO to release the car's deed of sale and registration to prove that it was not a gift from a Chinese-Filipino tycoon as rumored by some individuals critical to the President. The only possible way to discover whether the Porsche luxury was indeed sold was through ...
Read more

Aktor, iniwan ang ina

PAREHAS may pinagdaanan sina Jericho Rosales at Erich Gonzales noong gawin nila ang “Siargao,” entry sa MMFF. Namatay ang daddy ni Jericho na hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya matanggap na wala na ito. Miss na miss na niya ang kanyang daddy. Nag-break naman sina Erich at Daniel Matsunaga. In a way, nakatulong kina Jericho at Erich ang pagiging abala nila sa shoot ng “Siargao” and somehow, naibsan ang kanilang kalungkutan. A month or so nanatili sila sa Siargao at gandang-ganda sila sa mga lugar na pinag-syutingan nila. Stress-free raw. Hindi na-link sa isa’t-isa sina Jericho at Erich. Taken na kasi si Jericho at happily married kay Kim Jones. Unexpectedly, kay direk Paul Soriano na happily married kay Toni Gonzaga natsismis si Erich. Walang naniwala sa ka-cheapang isyu. Nagamit pa si Toni na kuno’y pinagselosan si Erich. Balitang may non-showbiz guy na nagpapasaya ngayon ng puso ni Erich. Ang ex-boyfriend niyang si Daniel Matsunaga ay isang model mula sa Poland ang love of his life ...
Read more