ISIS tells supporters: “If you cannot go to Syria, join up and go to the Philippines”

The 20-minute footage entitled “The Solid State,” the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) declares Mindanao as a “wilayat” or ISIS state.

According to Chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay of the Malaysian counter-terrorism unit, this is the first time ISIS formally recognized a Southeast Asian group, a recent Reuters report said.

The video showed people wearing military fatigues wileding weapons, part of the video shows people undergoing training, other parts show a gun battle in an unknown location. The footage also shows the beheading of three people in front of a green screen. The victims, date, and location where the video was taken have not been identified.

“The authenticity of the video and when it was taken could not be independently verified,” Reuters reported.

In their local dialect, Malaysian militant in Syria Mohd Rafi Udin urges ISIS supporters in Southeast Asia, “If you cannot go to Syria, join up and go to the Philippines.” Udin adds that they should follow Abu Abdullah, also known as Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, who pledged allegiance to ISIS earlier this year.

Despite the reports, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla assured the public that the video was nothing but propaganda and there’s nothing to be worried about.

“People should not be bothered by this… Authorities are working on this. They can be identified, and they can be hunted down,” Padilla told Reuters.