PNP chief Bato: Mindanao major cities are candidates to become Marawi Part 2

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday said all the "major cities" in Mindanao could be the next Marawi City.

The country's top cop said they are validating reports on the alleged entry of foreign Islamic State fighters to the Philippines who supposedly intend to recruit members and attack Iligan and Cotabato City.

"All the major key cities in Mindanao are candidate to become Marawi Part 2," he said in a press conference.

Dela Rosa, however, assured that they are on top of the situation to prevent a repeat of the Marawi City siege which claimed more than 1,000 lives and displaced thousands of residents.

"'Yung ating Director for Operation si General [Camilo] Cascolan nandu'n ngayon sa Davao nagko-conduct ng signing. May activities sila doon related to security and defense of the city. Ongoing ngayon du'n sa Davao," he said.

"It will be replicated in other key cities in Mindanao para masiguro natin na there will be no repeat of Marawi siege in Mindanao," he added.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Ebrahim Murad, citing intelligence information, said foreign fighters who were forced out of Syria and Iraq have continued to enter the country and are planning to take two southern cities —Iligan and Cotabato.

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said foreign fighters are recruiting to gain more strength before they could stage another attack.

"Magre-recruit sila para magkaroon ng pwersa then kapag enough na 'yung forces nila to mount another siege then baka gagawa sila ng Marawi Part 2. So from the recruitment dapat na-a-address na natin 'yun, hindi sila makapag-recruit para wala na pwersa [na] magamit," he said.

But he pointed out that it would be difficult to lay a siege similar to Marawi due to its scale.

"It will take some time. Large-scale attack like Marawi will take months or years in the making bago 'yan magawa," Dela Rosa said.

"Ang binabantayan na lang natin ngayon 'yung threat na manggagaling doon sa mga naiwang miyembro ng Maute ISIS. 'Yung mga pocket attacks, lone wolf attacks—'yan ang babantayan natin dahil madali lang carry out 'yan. Pero 'yung large-scale attack like Marawi siege, medyo mahirapan pa sila ngayon," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi in October 17 last year after the killing of terror group leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. —KG, GMA News