Philippines reaches out to Indonesia as ISIS regroups
As ISIS-inspired terror groups begin to recruit online in Southeast Asia, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has sought the help of Indonesia to implement an improved maritime security plan and to reintroduce Islamic values to Mindanao to counter the rise of extremism.
Duterte arranged an exploratory meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Davao after receiving reports that foreign and local terrorists continue to enter and exit the country despite tightened Indonesia-Philippine-Malaysia maritime patrols.
Indonesia’s MoD earlier provided intelligence that around 1,200 ISIS-inspired militants are operating throughout the Philippines, while a think tank in Singapore reported that a hidden
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