THE Australian and the Philippine government on Monday underscored the need to deter terrorists from setting foot anywhere in the Asia-Pacific rim.
“We cannot afford to let them have a foothold anywhere else, [even with a] little line in our region,” said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull shortly after a counter-terror capability demonstration in Camp Aguinaldo the other day.
Turnbull explained the terrorists were able to penetrate through Syria, taking Raqha, a huge city in Iraq, developing the reputation and able to present an image of invincibility in terms of propaganda and recruitment.
“This threat of terrorism by Islamists is a global one and it is all connected,” Turnbull said, adding “many of the fighters for Islamic State that propelled in Marawi were from all over the world.”
“They come from Indonesia or Malaysia, they’ve been to the middle, some of them were Arabs from the Middle East, it is a global fight,” said Turnbull who praised President Rodrigo Duterte in ending terrorism in Marawi City quickly.
The Australian government has supported the Philippine military in technical support by sending intelligence reconnaissance planes to Marawi City to help detect the movement of the terrorists.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, has expressed optimism the Philippines shall soon receive even bigger economic deals after Duterte was dubbed the most trusted Philippine president in the last 20 years by an independent pollster.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panel chairperson, made the statement in reference to the results of a September 2017 survey by Pulse Asia wherein the populist Chief Executive garnered an 80 percent trust and approval rating.
“Investor confidence in the Philippines just went through the roof. And with the Asean Summit right around the corner, we can expect the country to receive a tidal wave of foreign investments and financial packages that otherwise won’t be offered to us with a different president,” Nograles.said.
Based on the results of the third quarter survey, the 72-year-old Duterte commands more trust and satisfaction among Filipinos compared to his predecessors Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III.
“That was nearly two decades worth of leadership, now that’s what you call pogi points,” Nograles said.
“President Duterte’s lofty ratings equate to an image of him not being a corrupt leader. And If there’s one big worry among foreign investors and loaning institutions, it’s the possibility that the money they fork out would get wasted due to corruption. They need not fear this under the current administration,” Nograles added.
