Teodoro: Foiled entry of Hamas group in Phl must serve as ‘warning’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said the reported foiled entry attempt of the Hamas militant group in the Philippines should serve as a warning that they are trying to find safe havens and expand their terroristic activities.

Teodoro said he has yet to know should the infiltration by the Hamas extremists is really happening in the country

"Wala akong nakikita (I haven't seen any), but maybe that serves as a warning "that there was an attempt before and there may be a spill off," Teodoro said at a media forum over the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

"Because, naturally, as they are driven away from their strongholds they are trying to seek safe haven elsewhere and try to regroup, try to spread the strife, particularly in Islamic communities," he added.

Discussing the possible infiltration of the extremist group in the country, Teodoro sees that Islamic communities in the country have been "really tired" of conflict.

"It's quite fragmented as we know so the best thing to do really is to remain resilient among fellow Filipinos and to find a common ground where we can agree with, respecting the religious views of each and everyone and respecting their freedom of speech," he said.

"We have this basic freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the freedom to practice what they want to believe, and tolerance, he added.

Teodoro likewise noted that "tolerance is built on mutual education as to what the other believes in so there are boundaries which we do not cross to be religiously and politically correct."

The National Security Council earlier reported that the Philippine intelligence units had been able to halt Hamas operatives who had tried to coordinate with the country's local extremists to expand their operation here.

The NSC added that the Hamas bomb maker was also successfully arrested by the members of the Philippine National Police and immediately deported to Turkey last year.