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AFP reveals they had long been aware of drone-use by terror groups


A military official revealed on Monday they had been aware for quite some time that local terrorists were capable of using drones in their nefarious activities.

While these terror groups were known to have used drones for surveillance during 2017's Marawi Sieged, AFP Public Affairs Office commander Colonel Noel Detoyato told GMA News Online they had been aware that terrorists had been using these devices even before the siege.

“Even before Marawi. But during Marawi, it was more pronounced. Technology is both a boon and a bane in the security aspect. So, we always consider that in the perspective of planning ahead,” explained Detoyato.

As to whether terrorists could use these devices in attacks, such as last Saturday's drone attack by Houthi rebels on two Saudi Arabia oil facilities, the colonel conceded that it was "not a remote possibility.” 

However, Detoyato refused to reveal if the AFP had performed a threat study and had developed countermeasures to the threat as “that is already an operational matter.”

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group had taken responsibility over last Saturday's attack Saudi Arabia attack, which was expected to cut the Middle Eastern country’s oil output by 5.7 million barrels per day or over five percent of the global oil supply.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. expressed concern over the incident, warning that the matter could deeply affect the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy assured the public that it had sufficient oil stocks. — DVM, GMA News

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