Palace: Still no evidence of ISIS presence in PH

MANILA - The Palace on Saturday reiterated that there is still no evidence yet pointing to the presence of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Mindanao despite the recent flare up of violence in the region.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Usec. Manuel Quezon III stressed that the Palace stands by the military's earlier statement that there is not enough evidence showing apparent relation between ISIS and the radical groups in Mindanao.

"The Armed Forces has proven its capacity in the past and the Palace believes that its assessment is correct," Quezon said in a radio interview.

Gunmen who have pledged allegiance to the jihadists controlling vast swathes of Iraq and Syria have instigated a series of deadly battles with the army since the nation's parliament blocked the peace push last month.

An assassination attempt this week on a visiting Saudi Arabian preacher who was on an IS hit list has raised the alarm further, although police emphasized they have yet to determine the gunman's motives.

"Their (ISIS) influence is growing stronger and it is expanding," Rodolfo Mendoza, a senior analyst at the Manila-based Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research said.

But Quezon stressed that "there are no verified reports that local terrorists groups are getting support from the Islamic State."

"There's no direct relation between the group here and the bigger terror group in the Middle East," he said.

The military reported on Tuesday that it has taken control the main camp of the Maute Terrorist Group in Butig, Lanao del Sur. - with Agence France-Presse