By Mar Gabriel
Eagle News Service
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday that it was verifying reports foreign terrorists have again entered Mindanao.
Lorenzana said reports from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia showed that there was an increase of foreign fighters in the island group in the southern part of the country.
“But we are trying to verify that. Up to now, wala pa kaming na-coconfirm,” he said.
Army Chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista said that so far, home-grown terrorist groups like Maute are in the process of recruitment.
He said the strengthening of the group, however, will depend on the results of the ongoing rehabilitation in Marawi.
“Anything na may insidente ng hindi paghandle properly, maraming repercussion diyan. That will be an issue for recruitment…,” he said.
He assured the public, however, that there were already efforts to cut the support of some to these groups.