No more foreign terrorists in Mindanao, says Lorenzana

Security forces no longer detect the presence of foreign terrorists in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday.

"Dati rati, may mga banyagang terorista diyan galing sa labas kasi alam naman natin na 'yung ating border, Malaysia, Indonesia ay malapit so nakakalapit sila," Lorenzana said at a pre-SONA forum and press briefing.

"Ngayong panahong ito, wala na kaming makita o maramdamang banyagang terorista dito sa atin. Ating pinagtutuunan ng pansin ay 'yung mga lokal na terorista na katulad ng Abu Sayyaf, BIFF at Dawlah Islamiyah," Lorenzana added.

In July 2019, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) commander Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said seven foreign terrorists are  in Mindanao training members of local terror groups.

Sobejana said the foreign terrorists, who are all ISIS-inclined, were located in the provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Maguindanao. — BM, GMA News