Malacañang on Tuesday belied reports that international terror group ISIS has set up a training camp in the Philippines. Quoting National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said: “ISIS has no training camps in the Philippines.” “What ISIS-linked personalities have done is to try to link-up with local jihadist/terrorist groups,” Coloma added. Further, Coloma said: “Some of these ISIS-linked personalities, who are really few in number, have also sought refuge in the base areas of these local terrorist groups.” For his part, military spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said the video is undergoing cyber-forensics by intelligence operatives from various agencies to verify its authenticity. "Ang social media po kasi ngayon napakadaling gamitin, napakalawak kaya madalas sinasabi natin na maaaring lumabas ito. Hindi itinatangi na may mga ISIS-inspired at saka ISIS-sympathizers. Madami po dyan, maging dito po sa Pilipinas meron po tayo niyan pero ang sinasabi lang po natin wala po tayong nakikita pang verified at credible na authentic na link," Padilla explained - See more at: Palace: ISIS has no training camps in the Philippines | News | GMA News Online
Hi John: Clearly you disagree with my position, but the attachment is another example of why I feel the way I do. Whoever beat this guy to death probably figured he was not armed because he was a foreigner. Maybe if the bad guys thought he might be armed they would have thought twice about ganging up on him. Note by a moderator: Gentlemen, can we please not let this issue creep in the back Door. Thank You.
Whatever the circumstances of his death, it was tragic and senseless, and I’m certain we all agree in extending our deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones. In response to your comment, Frodo, no, this terrible tragedy does not in any way modify my viewpoint - I do not think that foreigners should be allowed to carry guns on the street nor into any local establishment.
PETALING JAYA — Islamic State has released a video capturing the final moments of a Malaysian bookshop owner turned bomb maker in southern Philippines. The video, lasting seven minutes and 40 seconds, confirmed reports that Mohd Najib Hussein was killed on Dec. 16 last year. He was reportedly among 13 Abu Sayyaf gunmen killed in a clash with the Philippine military on Basilan island. READ: Malaysian bomb maker believed killed in Basilan The 37-year-old electrical engineering graduate, who ran his bookshop at Universiti Malaya, was known as Abu Anas al Muhajir (Anas the immigrant). In southern Philippines, he was identified as one of the emirs of the Khalifah black flag group linked to the Abu Sayyaf. The video, released by Islamic State’s (IS) Russian speaking media channel Al Furat Media, tries to portray him as a martyr. It opens with a group of South-East Asian militants carrying the IS flag in a forested area and reciting a pledge of loyalty to the terror group. A narrator describes the scene in Arabic: “Abu Anas al Muhajir, one of the truthful youths of Indonesia, was befallen by harm.” The term “Indonesian youth” used is understood to also refer to Mohd Najib. The narrator explains that Mohd Najib traveled to the Philippines where he founded a militant group, which was among the first to swear allegiance to IS. The video then cuts to a young man on his knees being beheaded by gunmen wearing ski masks. “Just as Abu Anas was merciful to the believers, he was severe with the disbelievers. And when he saw that uniting the brigades and groups in the Philippines had become an obligation, he strived to bring together the oaths of the Mujahideen, and uniting them under the obedience of one Amir (leader),” the narrator says. The caption, “Brother Abu Anas al Muhajir, Amir of the Ansar al Shariah Brigade” then appears below a mugshot of Mohd Najib. The camera pans back to the group before changing to a battle scene recorded by what is believed to be a mobile phone. In the video, three armed men are seen wearing vests or camouflage fatigues, and gunshots can be heard in the background. The scene is believed to show the shootout between the militants and the Philippine military in the jungles of southern Philippines. “Before they decided to raise the call to duty, some hypocrites informed the taghut (apostate tyrants) and led them to the Mujaideen strongholds,” the narrator says. He adds that Mohd Najib was killed, but the militants succeeded in “killing tens of enemies, destroying war machines and helicopters.” In another scene, a wounded Mohd Najib is seen being carried by his companions. The camera zooms in on his face and another man is seen touching his face with a bloodied hand while saying a prayer. According to an intelligence source, Mohd Najib, a father of five, died a few hours later, from a gunshot wound. He was a key figure in the IS Black Flag cell led by Universiti Malaya professor Dr. Mahmud Ahmad alias Abu Handzalah, who has been hiding out with the Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines. Known as Dr. Mahmud’s right hand man, Mohd Najib was believed to have been running a “IED SME” (Improvised Explosive Device, Small Medium Enterprise) factory in the Philippines and had been using the Abu Sayyaf hideouts in Basilan and Jolo as bases for IS operatives in South-East Asia. Mohd Najib fled Malaysia with Dr. Mahmud, 36, and several other IS terror suspects in July 2014. It was learnt that Mohd Najib had performed the Bai’ah (oath of allegiance) to support IS, with other Abu Sayyaf members. READ: ISIS officially recognizes oath of allegiance from PH militant groups The authorities also believe that he was responsible for arranging safe passages for four Malaysian militants to Syria to join IS. Dr. Mahmud was not with the group at the time of the shootout.
From some reading, ISIS pays pretty good, at least until recently since I hear their pay has been cut in half. I wonder how many of their fighters are outright mercenaries?
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has officially recognized the bai’ah or oath of allegiance from southern Philippines-based militant groups although it has yet to make an official “wilayat” or province in the South-East Asian region. According to American anti-terror blog, The Long War Journal, recognition of the bai’ah could pave the way for the announcement of an ISIS province. Local terrorism expert Ahmad El-Muhammady said ISIS’ recognition of allegiance from South-East Asian militants would not change the status quo. “But the existence of the ISIS-supporter groups and their willingness to declare bai’ah is enough worry. “Whenever a group does so, it means it has to follow the instructions of those who they make the pledge to. This means that every single command issued by ISIS leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi must be followed,” the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer told The Star. He said those who did so considered it a “religious obligation.” “They believe that the order cannot be disobeyed or it may have a religious implication. “The groups will pledge obedience and follow the instructions given to them. And they do so in God’s name,” he said. Ahmad said such pledges and adherence to ISIS instructions increased the threat of potential attacks in the region. “IS (or ISIS) has carried out attacks in the region before and encouraged its followers to continue doing so,” he said. The group claimed responsibility for the Jan 14 Jakarta attacks which took place near the Sarinah shopping mall in the city center, in which at least eight people were killed, including four of the attackers. Malaysia was mentioned twice in the 11th issue of ISIS’ monthly online magazine, Dabiq, for denouncing the terror group and for suggesting that home grown militants were targeting diplomatic missions in the country.
