Philippines vows continuous operations against threat groups

The Philippine government assured the public on Friday that law enforcement operations against threat groups will continue following the killing of eight suspected sympathizers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the military and police forces are committed to and focused on ensuring the safety and well being of the people "whose vigilance and cooperation are essential in maintaining peace and order."

Security forces are still working to validate reports if those eight bandits killed in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat early this week had connection with the ISIS group, he said.

"There are continuing efforts to verify if indeed there are possible links of such groups with other threat elements within and outside the country."

The eight slain militants were allegedly members of the Ansar al-Khilafah in the Philippines, a group which pledged allegiance to ISIS.

A military spokesman has said that government troops recovered at the scene of the encounter a homemade cal. 50 sniper rifle, an M16 rifle, a cal. 45 pistol, assorted improvised bomb materials, five ISIS flags and documents. Enditem