Philippine soldiers participate in a raid in Marawi city. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – It is feared thatsouthern Philippines is fast becoming a centre of extremist groups in Asia, asevidenced by dozens of foreign gunmen joining hands with local IS militants tofight security forces in the region last week.
According to intelligence sources of thePhilippines, among 400-500 gunmen that occupied Marawi city in Mindanao islandsince May 23, some 40 came from other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia,Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India and Morocco. Eight out of 33 militants killed duringthe first four days of the Marawi clash were foreigners.
Meanwhile, Indonesian authoritiesbelieved that among 38 Indonesian nationals came to southern Philippines tojoin IS-related groups, about 22 gunmen were fighting in Marawi.
Rohan Gunaratna, a security expert atSingapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies noted that SoutheastAsia is one of the areas where the IS is expanding and the Philippines is thecentre of the intention.
The violence in Marawi city erupted onMay 23 as security forces raided on the suspected house of Isnilon Hapilon, acommander of the Abu Sayyaf group and leader of a branch of self-claimedIslamic State (IS) in the Philippines. The US lists Hapilon as one of theworld's most dangerous terrorists and has offered bounty of five million USDfor his capture.
On May 30, the Philippine Governmentannounced that it was about to re-gain control of the city, urging the gunmento surrender.-VNA
