"The Duterte administration recognized this early, and will continue to take bold and decisive steps to eliminate this nefarious threat," the DFA said in a statement. According to the counterterrorism report, the Philippines is one of the five countries where 55 percent of terror attacks in 2016 took place. "President Duterte's focus on anti-narcotics and counterterrorism operations slowed progress towards shifting internal security functions from the AFP and [Philippine National Police]," the report said. The DFA, meanwhile, vowed that the government "will spare no effort" to secure a safe and peaceful environment in the Philippines. "The report helps elucidate further the very clear and present danger posed by terrorism in the country," the department said.

Source: Philippine Star July 21, 2017 08:15 UTC