Duterte: 'My relatives may have joined IS'
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that some of his relatives may have joined the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at an event in Palayan, Nueva Ecija province. Photo: EPA/VNA. |
In a live interview with the online newspaper Rappler in the Philippines, President Duterte said: “To be honest, I have some relatives who are on the opposition side, and some of them have joined IS.” He revealed that some of his relatives are members of two local Muslim rebel groups, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MI) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MN).
He also confirmed the link between the extremist terrorist organization and two recent suicide bombings in Davao City and warned of the presence of IS in the country.
“IS seems to be everywhere,” Duterte said. The leader of the island nation said two explosions — one at a Davao City night market that killed 14 people and injured 70 others last September, and another outside a church in the Cotabato area on Christmas Eve that injured 13 — were linked to IS.
However, Mr. Duterte expressed that he was “not ready” to share information on this issue. The Abu Sayyaf militant group - an IS affiliate in the Philippines - claimed responsibility for the attack in Davao, but Mr. Duterte said investigators were still looking for evidence to confirm it.
Mr. Duterte officially became President of the Philippines last June after an overwhelming victory over strong opponents. Since taking office, he has launched a campaign against drug crimes across the country.
This campaign has caused controversy around the world with many critics because the police can arbitrarily kill drug criminals right on the street without trial. Up to now, a total of 5,927 subjects have died in the above campaign.
According to News
