AFP appeals to netizens not to share terror videos which can inflame feelings of other religious groups

June 7, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines urged on Wednesday the netizens not to share the videos of the Islamic State-linked Maute Terror Group destroying a cathedral and religious statutes in conflict-torn Marawi City. Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., AFP spokesman, said in "Mindanao Hour" press briefing in Malacanang, said sharing the videos would be tantamount to supporting the terrorists whose intention is to inflame the feelings of other religions. "Please do not spread this. Let us not buy in into the plan of these terror groups to inflame the feelings of our other religions. This is not a religious war, this is a terror attack on the city of Marawi and we must be clear about it," he said. "We have requested that this be pulled out because it may fan hatred, it may fan hate and it is intended by these militants to induce other Christian elements to fight against these armed elements or to sow hatred among Christians and Muslim," Padilla added. A short video posted on Facebook showed armed men destroying religious images inside the St. Mary's Cathedral in Marawi, where government troopers have been conducting offensive operations against Maute militants since May 23. Padilla even cited in the past days, Christians and Muslims have been showing compassion  with each other, debunking all the claims and attempts to make it appear that what has been happening in Marawi was a religious war. "Many of our Muslim brothers are helping their Christian friends and many Christian friends are now helping their Muslim brothers in the same way that all these help have been coming along," he said. Padilla said netizens should be responsible in using the social media. In order for the government to counter the propaganda being espoused by the terrorists, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Malacanang communications group makes sure before it issues any statement, it "carefully vetted news. "Coming from the OPS side, what we are doing is managing the messaging. When I say 'manage', I don't mean to say we put a spin. I'm just saying that we try to get as much as possible, we try to come up with responsible and carefully vetted news," he said. (Celerina Monte/DMS)