PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is “on the radar of the Islamic State” after his repeated vows to wipe out the jihadist group’s branch in Southeast Asia, an Indian newspaper reported Friday.
Talking to Indian businessmen, Duterte mocked the ISIS recruitment promise that a martyr to their cause would go to heaven with 42 virgins waiting for him.
“I’d like to have the virgins here, not in heaven,” the President said. “God may not allow it.”
Duterte advised Indian businessmen to “avoid Mindanao” because it remains under military rule.
“Avoid Mindanao. There’s still martial law there,” he said. “But it’s a martial law that’s not really a martial law. It is a martial law for the enemies of the state,” he said.
“The implementation is against the enemies of the state, ISIS, for example and the rebellious Abu Sayyaf, who are fond of decapitating foreigners,” he added.
Citing intelligence sources, India’s “ThePrint” newspaper reported that the
IS is planning “to mobilize sleeper cells based in Indonesia, which are now planning a strike” against the visiting dignitaries who were in New Delhi to join their Republic Day celebrations.
“Duterte is coming with baggage, as he has been very vocal about wiping out IS. The Indonesian President, too will be present, and could also be a target. We have intelligence inputs that the IS has mobilized its people and is planning to strike,” a source told ThePrint.
The presence of the 10 Asean heads of state also presents a “chance to strike and send out a message,” another source said.
Duterte, who in the past vocally condemned the Islamic State, has also vowed that he will never allow the terrorist organization to build a “wilayat” in Southeast Asia after the southern city of Marawi was reduced to rubble.
Following a bloody siege that started May last year–Duterte has placed Mindanao under martial law, which state forces claim would help eradicate terror groups and communist rebels in the country’s south.
Despite these, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace “will not cower to threats from ISIS nor any other terrorist organization.”
Roque added that Indian security agencies and the Presidential Security Group had taken “all precautions” amid possible attempts on Duterte’s life.
Addressing fellow Southeast Asian leaders and leaders of India, Duterte during the plenary session of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Commemorative Summit Thursday night called for stronger cooperation among countries in a bid to stop the financing of terrorist organizations. With Vito Barcelo
Duterte also stressed the “importance of timely and thorough intelligence gathering and analysis” and expressed support for “the conduct of regular senior officials meetings on transnational crime, in consultation with India.”
Roque said the President lauded India as a “rising superpower” that had a moderating effect in international relations.
“The President emphasized the commonality between the Philippines and India and that is the pursuit of an independent foreign policy.”
Duterte, who arrived Friday night at his hometown Davao City, was able to secure close to $1.25 billion in pledges for investments from the private sector, expected to create more than 105,000 jobs. He also said the Philippines would consider buying weapons and warships from New Delhi.
Manila and New Delhi has vowed to strengthen ties through “trade and investment, defense and security, education and people-to-people cooperation,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said. With Vito Barcelo
