Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine police on August 1 said there is no sight of the Maute insurgent group, which pledged allegiance to the self-claimed Islamic State (IS), in the capital city of Manila as the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) will be held this week.
Addressing a press conference, Oscar Albayalde, police chief of Manila, said that security forces have monitored the ABB, a group of Christian hitmen converted to Islam that was active in the 1980s. The group has joined pro-IS militant groups in the Philippines and could be planning to disrupt the upcoming meetings.
Philippine police are also keeping a close watch over areas with a large number of Muslim, including Quiapo district near the presidential palace where a blast occurred during an ASEAN summit in April, injuring 14 people. However, local authorities said the motive was a personal dispute.
Albayalde stressed that security forces have been ready for the AMM since 2016. The Philippines will mobilise 13,000 police officers to prevent terrorist risks and guard about 1,700 delegates.
The AMM is scheduled to take place in Pasay city, south of Manila, from August 2 to 8.-VNA
