World

Philippines: IS enhances links with Muslim militants

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has said that the country received intelligence that shows closer links between domestic militants and the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) group.
Philippines: IS enhances links with Muslim militants ảnh 1Philippines police looks for escaping prisoners in Kidapawan town. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine  DefenceSecretary Delfin Lorenzana has said that the country received intelligence thatshows closer links between domestic militants and the self-claimed IslamicState (IS) group.

According to the minister, intelligence from allies showed Isnilon Hapilon, aleader of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, is trying to spread into new areas ofthe Philippines upon the instruction of IS.

Isnilon Hapilon left his traditional area of operation on Basilan island andwent to Lanao del Sur to survey a new area under IS instruction.

The army had until recently denied the existence of links between IS and Muslimmilitants in the Philippines and said Abu Sayyaf was had only pledgedallegiance to the network to boost its profile.
AbuSayyaf, which operates in two southern islands, has kidnapped dozens offoreigners over recent years and beheaded several of them, including twoCanadians, in recent years.

The United States has a bounty of five million USD on the head of Hapilon forleading the 2001 kidnapping of 20 people, including three Americans, on aresort island. He has been identified as Abu Sayyaf's commander on Basilan.

Lanao del Sur, a province on the main southern island of Mindanao, to thenortheast of the much smaller Basilan island, is also a stronghold of a theMaute rebel group, which has pledged allegiance to IS. Several of its membershave been arrested for a bombing last year in which 14 people were killed.-VNA
VNA
#terrorism#IS#Islamic State#IS link
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

IS-linked militants release two Filipino hostages

IS-linked militants release two Filipino hostages

Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines freed two Filipinos held captive for nearly three months, the country’s military said on January 19, the second release in within a week by the Islamic State-linked group.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines cooperate to tackle IS

Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines cooperate to tackle IS

Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have agreed to establish a trilateral cooperation to fight activities and ideas of the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) in the region, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi on January 26.

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.