Two 22-year-old citizens of Tajikistan were detained in the Philippines during a counterterrorism operation, local GMA News reports citing the Philippine National Police (PNP).
According to the police, the arrest took place on April 17 in rental accommodation in the Lomidong area of Marawi City (Lanao del Sur province) as part of the implementation of an order by the Bureau of Immigration against “undesirable foreign nationals.”
“This operation demonstrates our firm commitment to safeguarding national security, ensuring that foreign nationals within our country adhere to our laws and do not pose any threat to public safety. We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for those with ill intentions against peace and order,” stated Philippine National Police chief Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartates Jr.
He noted that law enforcement and security forces must remain in “close collaboration to counter evolving threats and prevent extremist activities before they escalate.”
Currently, the detained Tajik citizens are under the control of the Bureau of Immigration. The agency is conducting verification of their documents and legal status. Authorities are also assessing “possible security implications related to their presence in the country.”
It is not disclosed what exactly the Tajik citizens are suspected of.
The opinion of the Tajik citizens themselves regarding their detention is unavailable.
