Local terrorist groups outdoing each other in brutality: Duterte 

January 9, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that the local terrorist groups in the country are competing for recognition by the international terror Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by outdoing each other in brutality.

In a speech during the mass oath taking of newly appointed government officials in Malacanang, Duterte said he and the members of his Cabinet are of the opinion that the ISIS ideology is "here to stay."

"The rising nationalism in some parts of the country for some people was not there anymore. It has been overtaken by this ideology of violence and brutality, ISIS," he said.

"For you who are, the Moro here, remember that I intend no bigotry. My grandmother is a Maranao," he said, adding, that the local terrorist groups "are competing for recognition."

"They are outdoing each other in brutality. The more brutal you are in raising the ideology, the more credentials that you may have for a recognition...so we have this problem now of terrorism," he said.

The government troopers have been going after the terrorist Abu Sayyaf, Maute, and Al Khilafah groups, all pledged allegiance to ISIS. Celerina Monte/DMS

Duterte said the war against terrorism was exacerbated also by the problem on drugs.

He said the terror groups are driving the war using the methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Duterte has declared a war on illegal drugs. Celerina Monte/ DMS