PRRD will not cower to ISIS threats: Roque

FILE: Harry Roque (PCOO PHOTO)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is unmoved by the latest threats from the Islamic State or ISIS, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.

Roque gave this reaction to a news report by Indian-based “The Print” claiming that the ISIS group based in Indonesia is planning a strike in response to Duterte’s promise to “militarily wipe out” Islamist extremists in Mindanao.

“PRRD will not cower to threats from ISIS nor any other terrorist groups,” Roque said in a statement shared to the media.

Roque, who joined Duterte’s trip to India, said the Chief Executive has pledged to serve the Filipino people and “has left the issue of his mortality to the Creator.”

“He is unmoved by this latest threat and will be unrelenting in his fight against violent extremism,” Roque said.

In his previous speeches, Duterte said he will go for a hardline policy against criminals and terrorists, vowing to “blow them up in the high seas.”

Duterte is currently in New Delhi where he, alongside fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN), attended the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on Thursday.

The 10 ASEAN leaders have also been invited to be the “Chief Guests” of India’s Republic Day celebration on Friday.

Roque said security arrangements by both the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the Indian police are in place.

“All precautions though are being taken by the PSG and Indian authorities. We will all be there for and with him,” Roque said.

During his bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Wednesday, Duterte emphasized the need for India and the ASEAN countries to cooperate militarily in combating modern-day terrorism.

Roque said Duterte has manifested his interest to purchase Indian weapons after Modi told him that India has expertise in ships and other military hardware.

“There was a commitment, in fact, for the Philippines to purchase Indian military hardware,” Roque said.

He added that Duterte also raised with Modi the idea of coming out with a platform to combat terrorism as well as piracy threats.

“He says that ASEAN should not just be an economic body, that ASEAN should consider being active militarily to combat the threat of modern-day terrorism. He was referring, of course, to both ISIS- type of terrorism which is a problem to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even southern Thailand, and he was talking about international terrorism at sea which is piracy in the Indo-Pacific navigation route,” Roque said.