Gov’t on guard against ‘copycat’ terrorist strikes, says DND chief

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday said it is on guard against “copycat” attacks by local Hamas sympathizers following Saturday’s terrorist attack on Israel.

“We are monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects but we have not yet seen anything so far,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on the sidelines of the launching of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in a Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday, Oct. 13.

Meanwhile, National Security Council chief Secretary Eduardo Año called the Hamas attack a “deadly and barbaric terrorist assault” that targeted civilians and used hostages as human shields against a counter-offensive by the Israeli Defense Force.

He said he would push to have Hamas designated as a terrorist organization under Republic Act.

Teodoro said that no country is exempted from the threat of terrorism, hence, it is important for the military to always be on alert.

“Anybody can copy whatever happened in the Middle East. We can call them disruptors or extremists. I mean it always happens. Any country in this part of the world or any part of the world, even in Europe, they are on high alert for the possible effects of this on their security situation,” Teodoro said.

“It’s not only here that things happen. There have been ISIS spin-offs in France, in the UK, wherever. Terrorism is a possibility anywhere,” he said.

Foreign media reported that pro-Palestine groups in Paris launched a protest in their country and were dispersed by their police using tear gas, raising fears of a possible spillover of Hamas-Israel violence in other parts of the world.

In the Philippines, Teodoro urged the public to be vigilant and help the military to stop any attempt for a surprise attack similar to what Hamas did in Israel.

“As much as possible, we are preparing [the troops]. But it also means that the communities should also be vigilant. If they notice something off, they should report it to authorities,” he said.

Teodoro said the DND is ready to repatriate the overseas Filipinos who want to go home due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

“We are ready, willing, and able to facilitate repatriation.